flipping

I watched this show on Saturday night called Property Ladder. It comes on The Learning Channel Saturdays at 10 ET/PT.

Let me tell you, this show lit a fire in me! I just bought a condo in Nashville and I am hoping that I make some money on it. Granted, it is not a fixer-upper...it will be new when I move in...but I just hope that my property value rises as much as (hopefully more than) some.

The episode that I watched was about this 23 year old woman. Now, if you are not aware, that is my age as well. Anyway, she graduated from college and is working two jobs (as a waitress and a bar tender).

She bought this condo in Long Beach, CA for $253,000 something. That's crazy?! It took all that I could do to buy the condo that I have...and it's not near that much. Granted, when the renovations were taking longer than expected she said that she could only pay for a few more morgtage payments...but still, someone approved her for a $253,000 loan!

In the end she wound up making $68,000. Seven buyers got into a bidding war and she took the highest one. No kididng!

That's crazy...in 3 or 4 months this girl, my age, that is a bar tender and waitress made $68,000.

Question is - how much does that equal out to her? Is that a years salary? Two years salary? I'd like to know...because it sure is a heck of a lot of money to me!

I've compiled some links if you want to know more about flipping:
Flipping Homes.com
ABC News
Seattle Times
Real Estate Journal

better pour me another

Oh - how very interesting!

According to researchers at the Australian National University, those who drank within safe limits had better verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking than those at the extremes of the drinking spectrum.

These moderate drinkers performed the best and they also seemed to be the healthiest. The study consisted of 7,000 people in their early 20s, 40s and 60s, with 14 to 28 standard drinks a week for a man and seven to 14 for a woman being the safe consumption level.

Questions ranged from verbal reasoning problems to tests of short-term memory. Surprisingly, perhaps, non-drinkers were twice as likely as occasional drinkers to achieve the lowest scores, the study said.

"This does not necessarily show moderate alcohol use is good for our brains - there may be other reasons we haven't measured to explain the poor performance of non-drinkers," Rodgers said.

Results may reflect the fact that alcohol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and increase blood flow to the brain - factors linked to improved mental function. They also support research that suggests moderate alcohol intake can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by improving circulation.

Apparently, being prudish and being a lush can make you stupid. Who knew?!

And here is Sarah's key to life - "Moderation is key." So true in just about every situation I can think of. Now, a little bit of arsenic...that's not good...moderation is not key. If you thought that would be a good thing to do...maybe you should have another drink.

flirting at work? i wouldn't...

Does it pay to be a flirt?

Report says women in the workplace who use sexual behavior may not get that next promotion or raise.

We all know those women - you might even be one of them, but flirting in the office is indisputably taboo and it could even take a toll on your financial future.

"Women who cross their legs provocatively, wear short skirts or massage a man's shoulders at work get fewer pay raises and promotions, according to Friday's USA Today.
The newspaper, citing a Tulane University study, said 49 percent of MBA graduates polled admitted that they have tried to advance in their careers by sometimes engaging in certain sexual behaviors, including sending flirty e-mails and wearing revealing clothing.

The respondents who said they never engaged in such activity earned an average of three promotions, versus two for the group that had employed sexuality. Those who said they never used sexuality were, on average, in the $75,000-$100,000 income range; the other group fell, on average, into the next range, $50,000 to $75,000."

Arthur Brief, a professor at Tulane says that, according to the study, women should be careful about letting men open doors or lift boxes that aren't particularly heavy, because chivalry is "benevolent sexism."

"There are negative consequences for women who use sexuality in the workplace," Brief told the newspaper.

The 164 women in the study ranged in age from their mid-20s to 60.

So, ladies, let this be a lesson to us all. Don't try and sleep your way to the top...the only place that it will get you is looking for other employment.

And let us not forget, women hate women who whore themselves out. Don't make enemies at work. The last thing that you want is to make female enemies at work - ladies can be vicious!

feeding my addiction

I don't know if you are from Nashville (honestly, not many are), or if you are living here (like me) or maybe...just maybe...you've never even been here before...but I must tell you about my experience feeding my addiciton a couple nights ago.

Because BBLogan activated my addiction for bullseye and bread, I ventured out to the new Target and the new Panera Bread on Old Hickory Boulevard. The food at Panera was amazing, as usual. I love this place. When I went to UTK, I ate at the one on the Strip all the time. That's where I became addicted first.

Anyway, I had the Vegeterian Black Bean soup and the Asian Chicken salad - both delicious. The Asian Chicken salad has cilantro in it - this stuff is like cat nip to me. I crave it and there is no explanation as to why. I would put it on everything if I could. If it came in chapstick form, I would slather it all over my lips.

Umm - that's weird. I wouldn't do that. I swear!

Anyway, then I walked over to the Target and it is designed so different from the other ones in Nashville/Brentwood that it felt like I was in another town. Everything was all flip-floped. I liked it! After I dropped a measly $60 on things that I didn't need, I walked out. The sun was setting over the mountains in the distance, there was a vast parking lot in front of me. I didn't recognize anything. Now I really felt like I was in another town in vacation...going to Target and eating at Panera.

I breathed deep...sighed...and while walking back to my car decided that I love Nashville - and I love Target - and I love Panera.

my favorite ad campaign

By far, one of my favorite ad campaigns is the Budweiser's "Real Men of Genius."

I roll on the floor every time I listen to these...every time!

Some of my favorites include:

Mr. Edible Underwear Maker - "Nothing says I love you like a mouthful of underwear."

Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer - "Because of you a simple elevator ride is suddenly a 42-floor plummet into the bowels of hell. Who did it? Who cares?! Sweet mercy, someone please just light a match! Here's to you - oh Ninja of the Nasty."

Mr. Underwear Inspector #12 - "Dedicating yourself to a craft that others might 'poo-poo...' We're glad you've got your hands down our shorts."

Mr. Pickled Pigs Feet Eater - "Ignoring all you know about pigs, and where they live, and what they step in - you look at their pickled paws and say 'Yummy.' A pig's foot soaked in pickle juice...now that's good eatin.'"

Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer - "There are 24 hours in a day - you're wearing 80 hour protection. If the sun fails to go down, you'll be ready. 30SPF? Please, you might as well be wearing cooking oil! (Something smells delicious)"

If you want to listen to some MP3's of them - here are some sites:

BudLight
MStoner
KCITokyo