iTunes Podcast: Yogadownload.com

I'm really into my Yoga teacher - Kim (NYSC, Verick Street, Thursday's @ 7:30). She's an 85lb contortionist and amazingly sweet and forgiving of my "I'm a foot away from touching my toes" flexibility level. But, Kim only teaches one night a week, and Yoga is turning out to be the one thing at the gym I really enjoy, so in the spirit of that, I'm looking for a band-aid pod-cast to keep me Kim'mafied Friday through Monday.

Exploring the free podcast world of iTunes, I downloaded "YogaDownload.com - 20 Min Yoga sessions." I think there's only five sessions entirely, not like a new one every week. YogaDownload.com sells these podcasts, so I can't imagine they just post them all on iTunes for free.

The instructor is very Kim - She speaks slowly, she's encouraging, she praises me. The free classes are not Level 1 beginner - You'll have to take a few Yoga classes and see people doing the poses to know what she's talking about. I'd say these are at the intermediate level - For people who understand what the poses should look and feel like, but she's not asking you to do a lotus or headstand.

The website also has a helpful picture download of all the poses mentioned.

Half.com - Recycle Income

I've made over $375 on Half.com in the past six months. This is why I love Half.com:

• No Listing Fee
• Listing Never Expires
• 100% Shipping Reimbursement - They credit you more than you need
  
• Easy Bulk Entry - ISBN Number, Condition, Price - They give you gauge, based on what's listed
• Direct Deposits!

Could this get easier? Everything I own with an ISBN number is on Half.com (except Harry Potter). It sits there, it sells, I make money, directly deposited into WaMu! These things add up. I've made an average of $62 a month, and I feel no loss - I feel a less cluttered apartment. Thumbs up for Half.com.

iPod Shuffle: New Favorite Thing

I may be behind the times on this one - The iPod Shuffle (this model) did come out, what, a year ago? But I never got it because it was $80, and I was so hooked on hand picking my songs, playlists - I need options.

I got my iPod Shuffle yesterday (a gift), and I learned very quickly that (a) I do not need options, nor do I want them (b) I need, and want, and love, this postage stamp portability, like nothing else. Forget buying a puppy, I have an iPod Shuffle, and oh I could just eat it right up.

So small, SO small. I bet that picture is bigger than the actual model. As light as a penny. A feather. A waft of fresh maple syrup in the morning.

If you don't have an iPod - This is the model to get. Remember listening to the radio? It's similar, but you're in control and it's all your favorite songs. There are seven buttons on this thing, including (my favorite) an on/off switch - Thank you Steve for realizing I want this clear cut messaging from my electronics. "Hit pause twice, and um, hold it down." Leave me alone, and give me a toggle button, I miss the 90's.

If you do have an iPod and it's not a shuffle, you've already spent too much money on iPods, so check out eBay - They're selling for $25 to $40.

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing!

The boyfriend and I tried out Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing last night. Tickets were $15 a piece. There is a dance lesson from 6:30 - 7:30, which was indispensably helpful and debilitating. It had to have been 95 degrees during the lesson, and dance, which made the event a little too Survivor. The live band and vocalists came on around 8:00 - They were wonderful, and classic. All the big band songs you'd know from the 30's, 40's and 50's - Bobby Darin, Frank, Judy...

You're probably just as happy standing 15 feet outside the dance floor, dancing for free on the rest of the plaza.

Overall, great experience.

Tips: Don't bring a bag.

Adium for Apple OS X

Adium is a Jabber service available for Apple OS X. For those who are savvy enough to buy Apple Computers (AAPL), I take it there is a majority who know the joys of Adium. If you don't, these are the joys:

• Customizable to a staggering point. Font, size, shape, theme, sounds, transparency, auto-hiding, alerts...
• No ads (Hello AIM).
• Adorable little duckies.
• Tabbed chat windows, that can be dragged into other chat windows.
• One list of all your friends, whether they are on AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, etc.
• Spell check
• It's free, and open source (meaning, developers all over the world contribute to it's security, features, and debugging)

If you own an Apple Computer, download Adium here.

Netflix - Great Service

My friends Meredith and Pat recommended Netflix (NFLX) to me last summer. I signed up for a two week free trial and was immediately impressed with the speed at which my DVD's arrived and continued to arrive as I sent them back. I will say after you're a full fledged member the DVD's do seem to arrive slower than they did in the trial (curious), still - This is a great service.

Let's look at the most appealing factor of Netflix - The price points.

• 1 at a time - $4.99/Mo. (Don't get this, I don't even understand why they offer this - Who is this coy?)
• 1 at a time (unlimited) - $9.99/Mo. (Acceptable subscription for those who watch movies)
• 2 at a time (unlimited) - $14.99/Mo. (Right on target, but the next upgrade is only $3 more!)
• 3 at a time (unlimited) - $17.99/Mo. (Their most popular subscription - And lavishly necessary if you're catching up on 24, Grey's Anatomy...in my case, West Wing.)

How it works: You shop around (every movie and TV show imaginable), keep a queue, and the DVD's keep coming as you send them back - you get new DVD's a day or two later.

Blockbuster has a service as well, which allows you to receive DVD's by mail and at the stores - Exact same prices, even a dollar cheaper if you opt to only be serviced by mail. This is why I don't like Blockbuster: They've had outrageous prices for years: $5.99 + tax is not what I'd like to pay to rent one DVD. So, I'm punishing them, and rewarding Netflix for coming up with this cheap, convenient, method first. Also, is it just me, or did all the Blockbusters close?

Netflix is also an incredible gift, especially when you want to give a "home" (family, roommates) a present. I gave my boyfriend's family Netflix for Hanukkah, and they're loving it - They signed up for a full membership. Every time I'm there we have a discussion about their Netflix movies, and how much they love it.

Additional Perks:

• Watch it Now - Depending on your membership, you can download movies and watch them right away - I don't think Blockbuster offers this.
  
• HD DVD's and Blue Ray DVD's are available at no additional cost.

NYSC - 0$ to Join

I'm a member of NYSC - The club near my apartment is brand new, never crowded , and full of helpful (attractive) trainers. The classes are phenomenal: At the end of my Thursday night yoga class a professional violinist plays while we meditate.

I pay $69 a month - $20 is subsidized by my employer. Many employers (including mine) have promotional rates with NYSC...which is really just the standard rate upgraded to "Passport" at no additional cost.

Passport allows you to go to any NYSC, any time - Upgraded from, your gym + other gyms at non-peak hours (including weekends). I joined before I got my job, and I never bothered upgrading to Passport. I am at the level of simply trying to go to my home club - forget other clubs.

I happened to join during one of the may promotional moments of NYSC's history. I think I scraped by with a $20 join fee. Currently 0$ to join until June 30th. You have to join for two years, but if you need to bail early, you can always transfer your membership to someone else, and I'm sure Craigslist would be helpful for that.

Income Distribution

I'm 22, debt free (thanks parents), and I got a full time job 6 months before I graduated and started paying rent (thanks parents, again).

Where the money goes:

1. First: 100% on Track to Max out my Roth 401k by September 07 - $15,500 Personal Contribution, $7,750 Company Match
1. Taking the maximum 60% paycheck deduction
2. Started Feb. 12th
3. End - Early Sept
4. The 50% Company match is why this option is the #1 place for spare cash.
   
2. Second: Maxed out my 2006 and 2007 Roth IRA ($4,000 Each)
1. Interest earned on contributions is never taxed
2. As versatile as a brokerage account - Invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc.
3. After 5 years, take out up to 10K (contributions + interest) for your first time home purchase, medial, or educational expenses - TAX FREE!
   
4. Take out your contributions, with no tax penalties.
   
3. Third: Contributed to my Vanguard Brokerage Account, 100% Vanguard STAR Fund - Expecting a higher yield than my 5.00% WaMu Savings Account.
1. I wanted a fund that had a low min contribution ($1,000), and a fairly conservative stock to bond ratio, 60/40. I need this brokerage money to pay rent, so lets not blow it.
   
4. Fourth: 5.00% WaMu Savings
5. Fifth: Checking Account: $200 Max - I transfer money in from the savings account when I need to pay the Amex Bill. Utilities is automatically taken out, so is rent.

The benefits of saving for retirement at age 22 are exponential. My favorite online toy is the: Compound Interest Calculator. The 60 year old version of myself is hugging the 22 year old version of myself, right now.

After retirement, I'm looking for the best interest rate. I do all of my finances through Vanguard - My company 401k, personal IRA, personal brokerage account (Vanguard Mutual Funds only). Vanguard is an amazing company and I'll write a separate post on this later. In summary - the expense ratios and lack of fees, combined with the iron clad diverse mutual and index funds, make Vanguard a clear choice for passive investors.

Of course, there are many different opinions on where to put your money, Regular IRA, Roth IRA, etc. There's no right answer. But, this is my recommendations - It's smart, and again, 60 year old self, hugging 22 year old self.

Crate and Barrel - Aspen Dinnerware

Crate and Barrel Aspen Dinnerware - I fell in love with this dinnerware during my babysitting years. The Silbermans were heavy investors in the clean white lines of the Aspen Dinnerware line. My favorite piece of the set is the blows. They're deep with high edges, so no spilling. Perfect for when you construct your cereal in the kitchen and transport it elsewhere, like the coffee table.

Food looks best on white plates. Fact. I completely regret ever investing in non-white plates. I bought a whole set of black matte plates in college from Ikea...and you never throw out plates, they're too functional. Wonder what the resale value of used black matte Ikea plates are...

The Tipping Point

I was given the Tipping Point as a prize for finding the Afikomin this year at Passover Seder -- Thanks Libby. I put off reading it for a few months and picked it up only recently. After about a chapter or so I realized I'd quoted this book in a term paper during my senior year of college. In my defense, I had one photocopied chapter.

The cover makes the book look a little fiction'esq...But no, actually non-fiction.

Review: Awesome, awesome awesome awesome. There really isn't enough in the American Education system about Media Literacy and although this book isn't exactly Neal Postman, it will make you understand your world better - Why ideas spread, stick, etc.

One of those books you're running around reading paragraphs out loud to people, because it makes you sound so smart, like you discovered these theories yourself. Thank you Malcom Gladwell.

JCrew - Featherweight cotton solid V-neck sweater

On Sale - $40. Need I say more? I bought two of these, they're light, and are perfect with everything...especially my dull winter don't talk to me I'm in a suit clothes. Nine happy colors available.

The BBC's Planet Earth

The most mesmerizing visuals I've ever seen. Remember drugs? Very similar experience.





Planet Earth is an eight part mini series was filmed with HD Cameras, over the course of five years. I've memorized these statistics - The film is so fast, you can slow down one second, into forty five seconds. Sick video shown above.

I wouldn't say it's a requirement to have an HDTV to be mesmerized by this show, but I will say that it does enhance the experience tenfold. When I show people the glory of my new HDTV, I turn on Planet Earth. The quality is like you've never imagined.

MyFoodPhone.com

Ok I have to be honest and say I did this for a total of four days before I gave up, but I had a lot of fun while it lasted.

MyFoodPhone.com is a community food forum (not necessarily dieting), that allows you to take mobile pictures of everything you eat, send it in, and rate it based on what's there "1 Bread, 1 Cheese" - Then you can see sort of a dashboard view of how healthy you're eating:


Check out a random lunch:



Yum...

Satya Jewelry Sample Sales

My favorite local jeweler is Satya Jewelry. I first discovered Satya when my college roommate told me about their Sample Sales. I couldn't go, but she brought me home these wonderfully simple, elegant semi-precious green drop earrings. They're my favorite - similar shown above - I actually got this exact pair at the next Sample Sale - for $25, retails for $68.

I signed up for their mailing list (see bottom), and was happily notified next December that they'd be having a Sample Sale in their new SoHo location.

The most amazing sample sale I've been to in New York - Thousands of top notch pieces, all for $25, rings $15. They retail in triple digits, easily.

Satya has two Sample Sales a year, one right before Christmas and one in June.

eBay Express - Great for Bags

I bought this on eBay Express for $196.99 - The bag retails for $399.99 plus tax. The bag is Coach and is totally authentic, with tags. I love it - Gold is so versatile, and so much sweeter than black. It's a hobo bag - It looks a little full and puffy in the picture, but it's stuffed with something. In reality it has more drape.

This was the posting - I highly recommend the seller.

eBay for Citizens Jeans

I love these. I won these Citizens of Humanity "Skull Bunny" Jeans for $81 on eBay, and they retail for $185.

Here's the scoop - I know my size in Citizens: 26. This was the first time I was confident enough to bid for jeans on eBay - I went for it. Huge payoff - This company has totally standard sizing. I highly recommend buying a pair on eBay for 60% off Market Price.

WaMu Free Checking + 5% Savings Account

I ditched Chase (worst bank ever - worst rates ever, nothing 'free' about their free checking), and opened a WaMu Free Checking + 5% Savings Online (WM). This is the best bank, and the best offer, I've come across, in my life. Granted I'm 22 years old. But I do a lot of research on this.

Also how cute is this landing page.

Here are some of the many benefits:

• Free checks for life (selected styles)*
• Free ATM cash withdrawals (foreign and domestic)**
• A $0.03 reward on debit card purchases***
• Free Personal Bill Pay® service

But my favorite part was how easy sign up was - I was ready to go in 5 min. The online interface is clean, simple, intuitive. You can instantly transfer money between your checking and your savings account. You can even transfer money out of and into your savings account from other banks - And have your direct deposit feed right into that 5%.

I realize a lot of online banks offer great rates - but the benefit of having branches around is really nice. WaMu is actually in my building. The tellers don't stand behind glass - They're at little kiosks and actually interact with you, like real people. Love it.

The IN:NYC Card

The IN: NYC Card is my only credit card, and I love it. Not just because it's New York focused, and comes with a slue of New York centric rewards, but because its the only credit card I've found that gives New Yorkers double points for things we pay for on a monthly basis anyway:

• Dining
• Movies
• Cable Bill
• Internet Bill
• Phone Bill
• Gym Bill (oh my god)
• Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions

Who needs double or triple points for gas, groceries, fast food (hello Middle America). New Yorkers lead a different life, and we need different rewards. I have this card hooked up to all my bills - All five they pay double points for, and I'm racking up points twice as fast. Also nice, since the rewards aren't connected to airline tickets (that you'd need 25,000 points for), you can redeem your points for more realistic rewards, like a manicure, or a spa treatment, or your bar tab. I've had the card for six months and I'm already eligible for almost everything they offer.

Check out the rewards (and daily benefits) at InNYC.com

JCrew - Favorite tank with shelf bra

I just got this "tank with shelf bra" from JCrew - In Dark Flamingo (above) and Vivid Lime. Up until now I've stayed away from the "shelf bra" factor, but I'm so happy I took the plunge. This is the most comfortable shirt I've ever owned. All of my other shirts pale in comparison -- I'm ready to burn my bras. Also, this tank top is longer than there previous models, which I enjoy...I'm sick of shirts that rise up, I'm 22, not 12.

2 for $30 at JCrew.com

Mill Stores

Last summer I had an extremely good experience buying my living room furniture from Mill Stores, somewhere near Medford, Massachusetts.

Coffee Table - $70
Dining Table - $100 (with a leaf you can take out and make the table shorter)
Side Tables - $35 each

Add a little Wood Stain / Polyurethane and you've got yourself an inexpensive, beautiful living room.

Oh and the love seat I got on Criagslist for $300 - Some guy in Brooklyn. It's from a Jennifer Leather set.

The rug, and everything else, is from IKEA. The artwork (was) my fathers.

My New TV - Sharp Aquos LC26D43U 26" LCD HDTV

Isn't she beautiful? Major upgrade from my previous TV, which was a 10 year old RCA, and went to two Morgan Stanley Interns on Craigslist for $27.

Review:

I knew I wanted a Sharp Aquos - I think they have amazing picture quality, something you can't even attribute specs to. You just look at this thing and you know it's the best on the market - I honestly think they're better than Sony (and Sony price tag).

The "Key Features" of the TV are listed below. The main attraction was the amazing price tag - At LcdTvs.com - Free Shipping / No Sales Tax. Total: $689, down from $1,800 retail. Why is anyone buying electronics anywhere but the internet? They only sell brand new items, with full warranty. They shipped my TV next day, and I got it in two days, in perfect condition.

Key Features

• 16:9 ASV LCD Panel from Sharp's state-of-the-art Kameyama factory producing 6000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio and 6ms response time.
• True 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio with 1366 x 768 HDTV resolution.
• Wide Viewing Angles (176H x 176W) Sharp's AQUOS viewing angles are so wide, you can view the TV clearly from anywhere in the room.
• Enhanced Color Filter uses finer points to achieve higher throughput, enabling deeper, more vivid colors and 150% higher contrast ratio.
• High Brightness (450 cd/m2 ) AQUOS Liquid Crystal Televisions are very bright.You can put them virtually anywhere even near windows, doors or other light sources and the picture is still vivid.
• Built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC Tuners provide access to DTV and analog TV channels

Creating Curls

This posting is about the history of my curls, and how I've learned to craft them into perfect little ringlets.

In 8th grade, I stopped wearing my hair in a ponytail, and discovered my hair was curly (and oh I have boobs).

I used Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, which created curls, that were very hard, but none the less devoid of frizz (of any kind). I was scared of my curly hair; I was the only Jew in town. And went back to straightening for the next three years.

Senior year, full of confidence, I went back to the curls. I started using Pantene Pro V Curling Mousse - I've sworn by this stuff, and still do. Also (omg) Free Shipping.



Yesterday CVS was out of my lifeforce, so I went ultra daring and tried a new product (for the first time in, seriously, five years). Herbal Essences "Total Twisted" Curl Boosting Mouse came to my rescue - and was surprisingly, very very good (despite that the critics on Drugstore.com had to say). I will say this - I do use a lot of product every time I coat my hair out of the shower.



How to Create Curls:

There's only one way to do it. Shower, squeeze out excess water (stay away from the towel), wide tooth comb, tons of product, twist, and go. And hope it's 80 degrees outside.

If it's winter, maybe use the diffuser on low. to be honest I don't even own a hair dryer, but it's on my eventual to-buy list.

Aveeno Baby - Fragrance Free Daily Moisture Lotion

Everyone needs a good lotion - For winter, for summer. On a tip, I picked up Aveeno Baby (Fragrance Free) Daily Moisture Lotion from my local drugstore, in the baby isle.

Review: Five stars, for being completely as described. This lotion actually doesn't have a fragrance, so much so it's almost confusing -- my boyfriend has been asking to use it. I've discovered manly baby lotion.

I paid $5.59 for this but it's on sale at Drugstore.com for $3.99.