How-To 7 Simple Sustainable Living Tips To Save The Planet Right Now 9:03 AM 7 Simple Sustainable Living Tips Everything we do, from waking up in the morning to calling it a night, impacts the planet. You don't need a significant change to be a better earthling. Just do these seven simple, sustainable living tips to save the planet right now.What is sustainable living?Cambridge Dictionary defines sustainable as "causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time."Sustainable living is choosing a lifestyle that reduces your carbon footprint or negative environmental impact.For me, living sustainably is ensuring the next generation has enough natural resources left for them to survive and thrive.Is it hard? Here's what you can do:1. Turn off and unplug.Turn off gadgets and appliances when not in use. But that's not enough...Unplug them too! Even when idle, plugged electronics still consume energy. 2-10 watts or 6-10% of your appliance consumption comes from electrical items on "standby" mode.Unplugged appliances can be a fire hazard even when not in use.Living sustainably is as simple as turning off the light or unplugging the coffee machine.Giphy2. Reuse.Don't throw away that pasta sauce glass container yet. Instead, clean it and use it for keeping items or food.These bottles usually have tight and secure lids perfect for keeping the bugs out.Watch video tutorials on how to reuse plastic water containers, old clothes, tea bags, candle wax, and other used items instead of discarding them. With the information at your fingertips, there's no excuse for not knowing these awesome hacks.Tenor3. Be a conscious shopper.Always check the label. See if the ingredients being used are eco-friendly or cruelty-free. Opt for more sustainable alternatives at the grocery store, like picking paper stem cotton buds instead of plastic.Shopping for clothes? Avoid those that are made from non-biodegradable materials like nylon and polyester. Choose more environment-friendly organic cotton or Tencel.Gfycat4. Go paperless.Choose paperless invitations and notes. Thank God for technology; communication and sending information can now be done without printing paper.Read the news online.Choose email subscription or paperless receipts.Giphy5. Plant.What can be more sustainable than growing plants and trees? People may take plants for granted, but it gives us more than we can ask for. It provides us a sustained supply of food. It's the source of oxygen our body needs to survive and function.Plants can also be used as medicine and are good sources of nutrition.Plus, plants provide cleaner air, not to mention a gorgeous, calming view.Nature is a gift that keeps on giving. Agree?Giphy6. Go plant-based.Speaking of plants, choose plant-based food. Plant-based or vegan food is healthier for your body, rejects violence (no animal harmed!), and is safer for the planet.What would you pick to choose between growing your own food and killing a sentient being for a sandwich? Would you really do it if it's up to you to wrestle and kill the animal for food?Lucky us today because there are companies that produce sustainable products. Healthier meat alternatives are now available in giant food chains and are seeing a high increase in revenue."In mid-March (peak), sales of plant-based foods were up 90% year-over-year. For the 4 weeks following, plant-based food sales at retail grew 35% faster than total retail food sales." -Julie Emmett, Senior Director of Retail Partnerships at Plant-based Food AssociationThat's one heck of a growth!7. Support local, organic, sustainable brands.Buying locally means lesser shipping costs and a lower carbon footprint.Let's help sustainable organic brands grow because their products provide us a better option than what's available in the market.What natural, sustainable brands do you support? I personally recommend Human Nature. It's an ethical company with world-class, award-winning quality.GiphyEvery little thing you do impacts the planet. From the food you put on your plate to the shampoo you use, small daily habits like turning off the faucet when not in use, and adequately throwing your trash...you make a huge difference, my friend.You can leave the world a little better than you found it or make it unlivable.Never think that what you do doesn't matter. It does. You matter. You, dear one, maybe a tiny speck in the vast universe, but you can make an effective change and leave a dent.The question is, what kind of change are you making?Be a good earthling and steward to the creation. Follow these seven simple, sustainable living tips. The planet and future generations will thank you for it.
Food How To Become A Coffee Connoisseur 2:19 AM How To Become A Coffee Connoisseur Coffee. Just reading the word likely produces a reaction, like a craving or a recall of the familiar smell. People love coffee so much that it's the most-consumed beverage in the world, aside from water. Those who become coffee connoisseur knows that there's so much to explore within the world of coffee beyond Starbucks and standard coffee makers. If you love coffee but want to take your coffee-drinking habits to the next level, this guide will show you how. But first...What is a coffee connoisseur?A connoisseur is an expert. They understand the details, technique, or principles of specific arts and is competent to act as a critical judge. (Merriam - Webster Dictionary) As for coffee connoisseurs, they know everything there is to know about coffee. They're considered coffee experts, authorities, and specialists.How to Become a Coffee Connoisseur 1. Learn the Coffee-Production Process What does it take to make a cup of coffee? Coffee production, practiced predominately in tropical climates, is a precise science. How farmers grow and process coffee significantly impacts the final product's taste. According to the National Coffee Association, coffee production boils down to the following steps: Planting coffee beans, which are actually seeds Harvesting the cherries, the fruit of planted coffee trees Processing these cherries to extract the coffee beans, with the dry or wet method Drying the beans, if using the wet method Milling the beans Exporting the coffee beans Quality checks Roasting the beans Grinding the beans Brewing the coffee grounds You can learn more about how different factors at each step of the production process affect the final taste here. 2. Try All Different Flavors and Roast Profiles Finding the varieties of coffee you enjoy the most requires research, exploring, and taste testing. As mentioned above, numerous factors impact the taste of a given cup of coffee. Two factors, in particular, significantly affect the taste of coffee and deserve more in-depth investigation and taste tests. The Type of Coffee Beans Used– Coffee is grown worldwide, and the specific coffee species grown and the environment in which it's grown affect the taste.There are countless different types of coffee beans available, but a few popular options include the following:Arabica- This is the number one coffee bean sold on the global market. The flavor is sweet and mild, and considerably less acidic as compared to Robusta. Ethiopia is a famous exporter of Arabica beans. Robusta- Robusta is the second most popular coffee bean. They have high caffeine levels because the cherries repel insects and protect the tree. Liberica- Liberica coffee beans are rare and more challenging to come across. People describe the flavor as mildly acidic with a woodsy touch aroma. Excelsa- Although it is a part of the Liberica family tree, it has a unique character. These coffee beans are the rarest of them all and are only grown in Southeast Asia. Excelsa bean coffee tastes tartish and fruity. The Roast Profile– The roasting process impacts coffee's taste because pyrolysis occurs once the heating begins at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, causing a hidden fragrant oil to emerge from the beans. The longer the beans roast, the less intense the coffee tastes. 2. Buy Your Own Beans Although buying a bag of ground coffee is more convenient, grinding your beans no doubt makes for better-tasting coffee. Coffee works like most products and other food items: the sooner you consume it, the fresher and better it tastes. However, leaving ground coffee aside for a while or storing it away loses its freshness and quality. A coffee connoisseur must know where to buy high-quality coffee beans to get a quality experience each time. A coffee subscription is highly recommended to remove the hassle of ordering coffee every time you're low on it since you will get coffee delivered regularly.When you buy coffee beans, follow these tips to store them properly: Buy just the right amount or store the beans in a large batch Opt for an air-tight container Store the container at room temperature 4. Become a Brewmaster Yes, you can buy fancy lattes and macchiatos at coffee shops, but nothing beats brewing your own delicious coffee at home. To find your perfect cup of homemade coffee, try out a few different brewing styles: Pour-Over– All you need is a coffee cone and a matching filter. Simply pour hot water over the ground coffee into the filter and wait for it to slowly drip into the mug below. French Press– Fill the carafe with the ground beans, top it off with nearly-boiling water, stir it, and close the lid. After four minutes, press the plunger down to press the coffee out into the carafe, then pour. AeroPress– You can learn about the 10-step brewing process directly from the AeroPress website. Drip Method– The drip method differs slightly from the pour-over method. You use a glass flask that acts as a carafe and a special drip filter paper for the drip method. Just pour water into the ground beans and wait for the coffee to drip into the flask. 5. Experiment and Find Your Favorite Not all coffee connoisseurs like the same cup of coffee. The key to enjoying your daily brew is researching your options, trying them out, and identifying your favorite products and methods. Also, try out different combinations of bean types, roast profiles, and brewing methods. After enough trial and error, you'll find the perfect way to enjoy your favorite drink. And you'll become a coffee connoisseur every coffee drinker can trust.
Freelancing Tools Every Blogger Should Consider Investing In 7:35 AM Blogging is fun. It can also be a great way to earn a living. But, to do so, you will have to invest quite a bit of your time into learning new skills, doing your research, and becoming a decent writer. It is also a good idea to invest some money in buying a few tools. Doing so will enable you to work smarter and produce better, more engaging content. Here are a few for you to consider. Tools Every Blogger Should Consider Investing In Use a decent plagiarism checker Nobody wants to be partway through one of your articles only to end up feeling that they have already read it somewhere else. You want to be original, so it makes sense to check for any copied text before you hit the publish button. Everyone researches their blog posts differently. But, one method that a lot of people use can make it surprisingly easy for you to inadvertently publish a piece that contains sections of text that has been published elsewhere. If you are in the habit of going online, reading studies, and copying and pasting points that are relevant to your readers into a separate document, then crafting it into your article you can easily make a mistake. It is possible to inadvertently forget to rewrite a section or leave something in that you meant to remove. So, it is good practice to run what you are planning to publish through a plagiarism checker. Doing so will also enable you to pick up self-plagiarism and to prevent you from creating duplicate content on your website. Something that can have an extremely negative impact on your ability to rank well. GiphyText analysis tools You need to remove any spelling and grammar errors. Usually, you can do this simply by using the one that is built into your word processor. It is also possible to put what you write through a text analysis tool like Hemmingway or invest in the pro version of Grammarly. When you do, you will be provided with alternative ways to phrase things, which can help you to write content that flows better. TenorA way to create interesting images Bloggers that include plenty of images in their articles tend to do better than those that don't. Being faced with a solid block of text puts a lot of people off. So, it is always worth breaking up what you have written using photos, memes, and infographics. If you can create these yourself, it is worth doing so. It will save you a lot of money and ensure that you get exactly what you need. Canva is a brilliant tool, that enables you to create all kinds of visual aids to embed into your content. Initially, you can use the free version. But, once you start earning some money from your blog it is a good idea to consider paying for the pro version. GiphyI really enjoy blogging. As you can see from these statistics it is becoming increasingly popular. So, why not give it a go yourself?
Listicle How Your Friendships And Relationships Have Changed Due To Coronavirus 11:16 PM Do you feel a strain on relationships since the c o r o n a v i r us p a n d e m i c began?It’s a natural feeling as we’re all practicing varying levels of social isolation. It may help to know that we’re all feeling the strain, and we explore all the reasons why in this post. Through it all, there are some silver linings. Here are a few ways your friendships and relationships have changed due to the c o r o n a v i r u s.How Your Friendships and Relationships Have Changed Due to C o ro nav i rus 1. Less Face Time Most of us are getting less face time and more FaceTime through virtual calls. Instead of meeting up at a coffee shop for a chat, we’re brewing our own and having Zoom meetings to catch up. Even if you’ve been good about keeping up with your friends (even virtual friends), it’s definitely a different dynamic. When a friend is struggling, you might want to reach out and give him or her a hug---but you can’t. Until now, most of us have taken those little gestures for granted. Now that we’re missing them, we realize how important they are. 2. Changes in Overall Contact Everyone is handling this crisis in their own way. Some people are reaching out to friends and family members more as they’re stuck at home with little to do. Other people are feeling the weight of depression and not reaching out as much. As a result, you may hear from people you haven’t talked to in years and feel out-of-touch with someone you previously talked to every day. If you do find that a friend or family member seems to be sliding into isolation, try reaching out more often. We could all use a helping hand, and it’s always helpful to know someone cares. 3. More Appreciation In times of panic, many of us are sitting back and counting our blessings. And those blessings include the people we love. So you may find that you have a deeper appreciation for your inner circle, and they may even show more appreciation for you. At the very least, we will all appreciate the playdates and coffee chats when they finally resume. 4. Additional Stressors Everyone is stressed about c oronavirus, but we should address the fact that many of us have been stressed for a long time. And if your friends and family members aren’t addressing their anxiety in healthy ways, they could be picking up some dangerous habits. Additional stressors like lack of work, financial trouble and relationship problems are common right now in the wake of C OVI D-19 isolation. If your loved ones seem to have extra stress on their plates, it’s always a good idea to help where you can. Just be sure you’re not overextending yourself and causing more stress for you. Especially if you notice a friend using alcohol as a coping mechanism, it may be a good idea to say something. Explaining addiction and how it can creep up on a person may help open their eyes. And sometimes, just the act of calling out the behavior can be enough to spark change. Since the c oro nav i r us pandemic hit, it seems as though everything has changed. But it’s as important as ever to maintain the connections that help support our mental and emotional health. If you notice that a friend is struggling, offer to help where you can. And if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Just as you would for anyone you love, your loved ones should be there for you in times of personal crisis. With any luck, we’ll be out of this period of isolation and we can only hope our best relationships will be stronger for it.
Freelancing Freelancing: The Best Decision I Ever Made 7:11 AM I'll be celebrating my 5th anniversary as a full-time freelancer this year. 🥳 I gotta say, freelancing has been the best decision I ever made career-wise.Freelancing: The Best Decision I Ever MadePre-freelancing lifeFor those who don't know, I'm a licensed pharmacist. But, I've always known my heart is in writing. When I was in college, I thought I'd work in a hospital, put up my own drugstore and maybe even have a few branches in different cities. Or franchise an already established pharmacy...and live happily ever after.But, things don't always work out the way we planned.I worked in a hospital and drugstore but putting up my own pharmacy didn't come to pass.One day I realized mixing and dispensing drugs weren't the things I wanted to do all my life.I really tried, but the heart wants what it wants. We heart itOne day, I passed by a BPO company and thought, "Well, why not?"I went in and applied. By the end of the day, I got a new job.A part-time freelancer's strugglesWhile working graveyard shifts in my new career, I found an opportunity to work online. It was an excellent way to get my foot inside the door of the freelancing world.But, it wasn't enough.I was underpaid, plus working at night was exhausting. I could barely function to work on my online tasks by the end of the shift.So, I quit and focused on my regular job.Villains of my freelancing story: Fear and ContentmentTwo things were stopping me from focusing on freelancing: my fear of uncertainty (I had zero ideas about freelancing back then) andthe contentment and security a regular job offers.I was at peace knowing I would get a certain amount of money by the end of the month.Change saved the dayAfter I transferred to a different company, I had a prodding to find an online gig again.My job then actually pays me more than the previous ones.The task was more difficult, but I was having fun.I enjoyed learning things, took advantage of the free training they offered, and liked where I was at that point in my life.I was more confident, independent, and, dare I say it---I was, bolder in making decisions.That's a totally different story, though.GiphyBack to freelancing's armsBefore I decided to freelance full-time five years ago, I had a lot of apprehension.What if it won't work, and I'll be out of money in no time?What if I can't do it? There's no one to ask. What if they won't pay me?I wasn't happy with my work anymore, though. I knew it was time to bid the traditional office setting goodbye.My will to find better opportunities was stronger than my fear.So, even though I was afraid, I decided to own it.TenorMan, it was terrifying. And tough at the start.The first few months of working online full-time were terrifying but liberating.I left the comfort and security of my job in one of Forbes' Fortune 500 companies. I made do with what little knowledge I had about freelancing.I made Google and YouTube, my teachers.I did what I could to survive.But surviving is not what I came here for. I believe God put me here to do great things.Freelancing in the time of C O V I DI knew there was more to accepting what cheapskate clients were giving me.Getting paid just enough to cover my bills and my necessities beat the purpose of leaving the corporate world.I always knew I wasn't born just to work, pay my bills, and die.There's more to life than keeping your nose to the grindstone.If this C OVID has taught me one thing (or validated what I already know), it's that nothing's sure in this world.You can lose the normal you know in an instant. Heck, our global economy was crashed by an unseen enemy.But...Like anything in life, the change could be challenging, but we learn to adapt. It's human nature. 💪Some changes are forced upon us, others we decide for ourselves.Freelancing is one of the best decisions I made. I found a gig as a content writer and haven't looked back since.Though it wasn't always easy, the past year has been the best because of this guy named John R Pagulayan.If there's one thing I can advise my younger self about freelancing, there are better, higher-paying clients.And I'd say:Younger self, go find John now, so you don't waste your time and energy with these cheapskate clients!I can't teach you how to become a freelancer, but the great news is that my coach John Pagulayan is about to hold a FREE Workshop, and I highly recommend you join because he's done a LOT to change my mindset and the way I treat my freelancing business.He's going to share how CO VID accidentally created 6-figure earners and how anyone can do it, too, even if you have✔️ no experience✔️ no skills✔️ no prior credentialsThis can also help you if you're already working online but✔️ sick and tired of working with cheapskates✔️ want to turn your freelancing into a lucrative business✔️ willing to learn how to win in your niche✔️ interested in getting more clients to find you and not the other way aroundUPDATE: Enrollment is now closed. If you're interested to learn more, you can click here to register.If you have any questions about John, feel free to email me or leave your comment below.Happy to help!Now more than ever, we need to seek more opportunities online.Times have changed. During this pandemic, when we're advised to stay home and not be in close physical contact with people, I urge you to try out freelancing. It's the best decision you'll ever make. UPDATE: Enrollment is now closed. Feel free to subscribe to be notified when the doors open again.READ 👉 How A Former Executive Assistant Got An ₱80K Per Month Consultant Role in 42 Days… Even Without ExperienceREAD 👉 How A Corporate Employee Earned An Additional P50K Monthly Income From A Side HustleContains affiliate links.
Lux Thinking Aloud Ending 4:20 AM Enhanced Community Q uarantine has been lifted a week ago in specific areas. Since we're not included in the hot zone, we've now moved to General Quarantine. I honestly am not keeping track as my husband takes care of that. I'm just glad we finally reached an ending.EndingYou may have heard before that an ending is just another beginning. Agree to that. This end of quarantine for us seems to be the start of new cases. 🙄 Because look at the road situation as soon as the lockdown has been lifted.RapplerIn life, end of a career is start of a new one. Or a new business.End of a relationship is the beginning of another. It could be about you finding yourself again, renewing your relationship with some people in your life or a new person walking into your life.End of your Netflix show means you can binge-watch a new one. That is, if you even wait for one to end before you start another.I know endings could be hard sometimes. Heartbreaking. Life-changing.Especially when it ends because it's beyond your control. Like a loved one's death.It's a new journey for the departed (if you believe in the afterlife).Ending opens new doors you didn't even know exists.I hope the end of this quarantine is the beginning of a step closer to the healing of our land.I'm both happy and sad that my Lockdown Diary is finally over.TenorI think I'm having separation anxiety to my daily entry about my life in the time of c oronavirus.Maybe I'll start on a new series soon. What do you think?Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.-Isaiah 43:18-19Thank you for journeying with me during this lockdown; in all the ups and downs, during my sleepless nights and unproductive days, on my grief and in my joy.It's been only 50 days and so much has happened. Even without me having to leave the house.Writing keeps me sane. I hope reading my lockdown diary helped you realized you're not alone in your journey too. Hang in there. We'll see the ending of this crisis soon. Meanwhile, stay safe!
Lux Thinking Aloud Fruitful 2:52 PM Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. I love proverbs that's simple but with a profound meaning and has been proven to be true through time. Yesterday I went to bed as early as 9:30 PM. 💃My sleep has been erratic since the lo ckdown started so I woke up...12:59 AM! Crazy.I was happy when I got out of bed thinking that I finally would be able to start early. I thought it's 4 AM.That's alright. I love starting my day while the world is still asleep (although I didn't expect to be starting while the world was just starting to fall asleep). I've made this a fruitful day.FruitfulRundown of my day (not because you asked for it but because I want to remember)I started my day listening to a reflection on Spotify. I've newly discovered All Things Catholic by Dr. Edward Sri.Since I'm a multitasker, I was doing some stretching while listening to him preach about The Wedding at Cana. My husband woke up after an hour and we had our breakfast...at 2 AM! Then I started working on my tasks. By 4 AM I was dozing off and I haven't even opened my phone yet! I was winning my morning. So i took a nap break.Woke up at 8 AM because it's starting to get warm.Lunch at 10 AM. I'm usually just waking up around this time.Worked on more tasks.We're eating dinner by 5 PM. That's normal to us. What's not normal was that I helped start cooking our meal. 😂I was planning to skip my weekly Accountability Call because I didn't want to stay up beyond 9 PM. But I attended anyway. It helps me stay on track to speak with my fellow freelancers.In bed by 10:30 PM.GiphyThat may be a boring day for some most people. For to me that's a day of hustling and I love it. It's been productive.It's fruitful too because:I got an invitation to send a proposal.I got additional prospects on my list.I got to finish tasks I've been setting aside.I started my day with the Word again! I remembered to pray The Millionaire's Prayer.I was able to spend more time with my husbandDuring this p andemic, I allowed myself to just listen to worship songs while working. That's good but my attention is more on my tasks than on the worship.If I'm not tired, I'd insert a few minutes listening to a reflection. That shouldn't be the case.God should be first and center. Today wasn't a perfect day...I encountered some technical problems.Someone forwarded to me a news link about our government saying they're "not obliged" to conduct mass testing and leaving it to the private sector to do something about it. 🤦 Elect a clown, expect a circus. Am I right?I wish tomorrow's election day so it's still fresh in the people's mind what these clowns got us into. We forget easily. That's the problem. That's why history keeps repeating itself. We never learn.Well, that's it for today.Looking forward to another fruitful tomorrow because even in the midst of this p andemic, my God remains faithful and generous.I can be rest assured that He will never let my cup run dry.There is cornucopia even in this crisis because my God is the God who can make the impossible happen.Indeed His people can be fruitful even in the wasteland. What an amazing God we have!And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. - 2 Corinthians 9:8Your turnHow did your day go?What time of day do you get more productive?
