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Do You Use a Paper Planner or Digital Calendar to Stay Organized?

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:16:13 PDT

The New York Times recently published a story profiling a dying breed - the paper planner user. What was once a traditional holiday gift for the New Year is now often replaced with the convenience of digital calendars and apps on smartphones and tablets.

Many paper advocates quoted in the article fear the breakdown of technology in their carefully planned lives. While the digital adopters can't fathom the chance of losing a notebook calendar and appreciate the cloud-based digital backup. The debate comes down to a matter of preference, with each option offering its own pros and cons.

Though we're rarely more than an arm's length away from our smartphones, there is a touch of romanticism in the act of writing things down and doodling between the lines. Plus, many people find that in everyday life or while studying for exams, writing helps remember important facts. Where do you stand in the digital vs. paper organization divide?

NYT Kindle Subscribers to Get Free Access to Online Content

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:37:42 PDT

The New York Times's new pay wall went into effect today, and while you may find it harder to get your hands on news content, there are a few ways around it. Things are looking up for Kindle subscribers as well, since Amazon just announced that Kindle users who subscribe to The Times will get free access to NYT.com included in their fee.

How and when Kindle readers can access online content has yet to be determined, but according to the official press release, further instructions will be coming in the next few weeks.

10 Ways to Know If You're an "American Rustic"

Elka Karl — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:00:49 PDT

The New York Times recently ran an article and slideshow called "American Rustic," describing several different East Coast households that identified with this style. And while I will admit to appreciating and identifying with a few elements inherent in American rustic styling, some of it is a bit over the top (collections of antique dog identification tags, anyone?). So, is your household American rustic? If you answer yes to more than six out of these 10 elements identified in the article, then I'd venture to guess that you, too, have a bit of American rusticity in your home, too. You may be an American rustic if you . . .

Decorate with antique technology, such as airplane propellers, tube radios, or typewriters (then again, you may just be a steampunk)
Leave piles of woolen camp blankets around your home
Accessorize your worn leather club chair with a tattered patchwork quilt
Tear out weathered barn wood and turn it into wall paneling
Use stacks of antique suitcases for side tables

Does this sound like your style? Keep reading to see if you're really an American rustic.

2 Ways to Sneak Around the NY Times and WSJ Paywall

Emily Co — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:35:37 PDT

By now, you've already heard about The New York Times paywall, which, starting March 28, will require you to pay a monthly fee of $15 for access to online content. And if you want to access it through your computer and your iPad, you'll have to pay $25. I know this can be frustrating since we're all used to getting our news for free, but I can understand the need for media bigwigs to establish subscriptions in order to get themselves out of the red. For those who don't want to pay, here are some tips to sneak around the paywalls:

Social Media: Our pal GeekSugar laid out a neat list of NY Times Twitter accounts to follow. Apparently, if you enter the Times website through its Twitter and Facebook links, you won't have to pay to view the articles.
Google It: If you want to read all Wall Street Journal articles for free, you don't have to bang your head against its paywall. A tip from those in the know: Google the title of the article, then click on the link that shows up in the results. You'll get free access if you enter the article through Google.

Follow These NYTimes Twitter Accounts For Free Access to NYT Content

Kristen Hawley — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:15:24 PDT

Today, The New York Times announced its new digital subscription plans, starting at $15/month for unlimited web access to content; $20/month gives users access via the web and iPad app; $35/month allows readers to access unlimited content on unlimited devices. Casual Times readers can access up to 20 articles per month at no charge. New digital subscription policies go into effect March 28.

The Times Announces Digital Subscription Plan http://nyti.ms/hngBdIless than a minute ago via The New York TimesThe New York Times
nytimes

Additionally, links from certain search engines and links via Facebook and Twitter will not count toward a reader's monthly allowance. Users searching for content via Google will be limited to five articles per day. Luckily, the paper maintains a number of excellent Twitter feeds; for a look at who you should follow for free access to New York Times content, keep reading.

5 Tips to Clipping Coupons Like an Expert

Emily Co — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:12:33 PST

We all hear of miracle stories of coupon mavens feeding their families on $10 a week, and although it's impressive, it's not always realistic for the rest of us. If you aren’t able to clip coupons like it’s your job, read some of these tips by Nancy Cook, one of the vice presidents of coupon provider Valpak:

Decide what you need to buy. Nancy says that she looks "for specific deals on something that I’m going to go specifically buy . . . The coupons very much have to fit into my lifestyle." Don't clip coupons just because you think it's a good deal or it'll be harder to organize. Figure out what you need, and pick coupons based on that.
Store it. Pick a spot in the house to put your coupons, whether it be a kitchen drawer or a special accordion folder designated to coupons. Don't get overwhelmed with a pile of growing coupons.
Stick it in your wallet. When Nancy goes shopping, she leaves the coupons in her wallet so that she'll remember to use it. If you leave it in your purse or a in a separate envelope, it might get lost and forgotten among your things so try to stick it in your wallet. You'll be reminded to use it right before you're about to pay for a purchase, which is perfect timing!
Go online. Before a shopping trip at a store, Nancy goes on the web to scour for coupons from the retail shops. There are plenty of coupon sites like retailmenot.com that have a large directory of coupons to make finding coupons a breeze.
Stay loyal to brands. If you stay loyal to a brand, it will make it easier to follow up with special deals they are having. You will more likely be able to remember what specials are going on and when they end if you have a few key stores that you're following. You'll also probably receive paper mail and email from the stores, which will help you to keep track of sales. Being loyal to a few stores will also cut down on your web search time online.

4 Simple Changes to Add Value and Beauty to Your Home

Elka Karl — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:00:42 PST

A recent New York Times article lists a number of small changes that can make a huge price difference when selling your home. According to the article, "chipped plaster or broken bathroom tiles can knock $500 to $5,000 off an offer, $1,500 floating walls can add $50,000 to $70,000, and a $10,000 paint job easily adds $50,000 to the price, according to an informal survey of city brokers."

Even if you're not planning on selling your home any time soon, many of the suggestions in the article also make sense for any homeowner looking to add to the comfort factor and beauty of their home. And, on the off chance that you actually end up putting your house on the market, you can rest assured that these changes may help you get the price you want for your pad. Check out the article for all of the details on how implementing these changes can positively affect the sale of your home, and see my favorite suggestions below.

Banish clutter. When selling your home, clutter can detract from buyers' interest. In your everyday life, it can also cut productivity and add stress. Try these tips for cutting clutter in your home.
Refresh with new towels and throw pillows. These items can add a surprising amount of value to a home on the market. If you can't afford to buy new ones at the moment, bleach towels and sew or change out covers on the most visible throw pillows in your home.
Regrout tile. Apparently, in a $3 million apartment, simply regrouting the tilework can add $100k to the resale value. In your home, it can make you feel as if you've stepped into a new bathroom. I'm about to regrout the bathtub tiles at my house, and found this advice pretty helpful for DIYers. Too time-intensive for you? Hire a professional.
Clean or replace a dingy rug. According to the article, a dirty area rug can subtract $5,000 from the price of a home on the market. Tired of looking at your besmudged carpet? Rent a steam cleaner. You'll get a good workout, and the results can't be argued with.

What other easy changes would you recommend for adding freshness to your home?

Source

Struggling to Sell Your Apartment? Go to the Dogs

Emily Co — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:35:04 PST

Your little furry friends may just be the clincher if you're trying to sell your place of residence. Contrary to popular opinion, pets can help make a place seem more inviting and will leave a lasting impression in the minds of potential buyers, according to The New York Times. But not all animals will pass muster - pets that have winning personalities will be more appealing than unfriendly or ill-behaved ones.

Tamasin Ramsay, a prospective buyer, fell in love with Elbow the friendly black Affenpinscher that greeted interested apartment hunters at a two-bedroom co-op in New York. Tamasin, who ended up purchasing the apartment, says the dog's "presence created a sense of love and family, a sense of belonging. The apartment was beautiful, but what got my attention was the very cute dog that was always bounding around."

So if you're doggone tired of trying to sell your apartment, your four-legged pal may be the answer to all your frustrations. I'm sure your broker's charms can't match up to Fluffy's!

4 Tricks to Becoming a Memory Fiend

Emily Co — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:10:22 PST

I'm always envious of people with photographic memories, but according to a New York Times article, it's apparently a "detestable myth." People with great memories don't usually have brains that are more biologically advanced than their peers. Instead, being able to retain information is actually a skill you can hone on your own.

Memory is a great tool to have in your work life, networking, or when you're trying to build up other skills. I used to think my friend's method of learning a foreign language was ridiculously time-consuming - she did extensive research of the origins of each word before trying to learn it. Now I'm realizing that there may be a point to her laborious efforts. Here's how you can become a memory athlete:

Repetition Is Key: You're more likely to remember items if you practice memorizing it over and over again. Rehashing events and rereading something will make the impression last longer.

For more memorization tactics, read on.

Do You Care What an Actress Eats?

Mandy Harris — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:10:17 PST

You've read it a million times: an in-depth magazine piece about an actress that not only details what she said, what she wore, and what she's really like, but also what she ate during the interview, down to every savory detail. An article in The New York Times gives this phenomenon a name - documented instance of public eating, or DIPE - and wonders why exactly we're so obsessed with what (or whether) an actress eats.

The article surmises that we fixate on what our favorite celebs eat, especially if what they're eating is decadent or unhealthy, because it makes them human. I agree; hearing that Cameron Diaz can't resist a burger and fries or that Drew Barrymore chows down on mac and cheese in bed makes them, and by extension their lifestyles, seem more accessible. It does make me a little uneasy that this obsession seems to mostly involve actresses, and not their male counterparts, but it also doesn't surprise me.

Do you care about what an actress eats? What do you think the reason is behind our fixation?