Recipe: Spring Flowers Cupcakes
What a cute idea!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Rapid Reading
My apartment building has a lounge with a library full of books. Every now and then I try to give up some of my old books and take a few new ones. A few weeks ago I found a very intriguing book titled "Break-Through Rapid Reading" by Peter Kump. Did you know that less than 1% of Americans can read faster than 400 words per minute? I bet you don't even know your reading rate!*
This book is surprisingly very helpful. I am actually skipping over some sections in order to get to the key takeaways (I know it seems counter intuitive that I am speed reading a rapid reading book) and I have found one key nugget of information:
In chapter 3, the book states that your hand is your built-in reading accelerator. Most people read at about 240 words per min because eyes need about 1/4 of a second to fixate on an object. However using your finger helps eliminate unconscious regressions 10-20%.
This book has some powerful information. I've already started practicing a few of the techniques and have noticed a difference. In the corporate world it is such a wonderful advantage if you are a fast reader. So start using your finger, it may look weird in public but it really helps!
*It can be calculated by finding: (a) words per line read, (b) total lines read, (c) multiply a x b, then divide this number by the minutes you were reading...hence wpm.
This book is surprisingly very helpful. I am actually skipping over some sections in order to get to the key takeaways (I know it seems counter intuitive that I am speed reading a rapid reading book) and I have found one key nugget of information:
In chapter 3, the book states that your hand is your built-in reading accelerator. Most people read at about 240 words per min because eyes need about 1/4 of a second to fixate on an object. However using your finger helps eliminate unconscious regressions 10-20%.
This book has some powerful information. I've already started practicing a few of the techniques and have noticed a difference. In the corporate world it is such a wonderful advantage if you are a fast reader. So start using your finger, it may look weird in public but it really helps!
*It can be calculated by finding: (a) words per line read, (b) total lines read, (c) multiply a x b, then divide this number by the minutes you were reading...hence wpm.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
NYC Rents on the Rise
This week I was reading an article in The Wall Street Journal that stated rent is rising in Manhattan and the quarterly vacancy rate is at the lowest for the first time in 3 years. Although this is a little bit upsetting (my lease is up soon and I was hoping to bargain pricing) I can't help but feel like I am still spending too much money on rent. I researched on the internet and it seems like the common rule is to allocate "33% of monthly earnings" towards housing. I am definitely spending more than that but I feel like living in New York City is a unique experience and cannot be compared to normal costs of living to anytown, USA etc.
Growing up in New York has unfortunately given me the attitude that "nothing else compares" to the big apple because there is something magical about it. So, if my rent increases, I still want to stay in my doorman building. I love being within a 5-block radius of: 3 different subway lines, a Trader Joes, a million different types of restaurants, a nail salon, a hair salon, a Home Depot, a park, shops and not to mention I still enjoy the fabulous view from my rooftop! I have to splurge a little sometimes.
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