Month: October 2015

Don’t be scared – Halloween party planning can be fun!

HalloweenLast year, my friend and I spent Halloween in Tokyo. It was a fabulous trip to such a vibrant city. Forget the rumours about Tokyo being super expensive. You wouldn’t believe how affordable it was! The weather was mild and it was ideal for watching the different Halloween parades. I knew Japanese people loved their fancy dress and Halloween was no exception. Even some dogs were dressed up.

We’re now in October and Halloween is approaching. What are your plans for Halloween? Are you giving a party?

Here’s your party planning checklist with 13 tips for a spooky and stress-free party:

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Why is studying so exhausting?

The other day, my friend and I were talking about the PMI exam. In case you haven’t heard about it, it’s the qualification for project managers and perceived as a rather difficult exam with quite an intensive preparation. While I toyed with the idea in the past, I couldn’t find the motivation. But in the spur of the moment, I decided to join her and signed up!

Since then, my enthusiasm has been on a small roller coaster ride. You see, an entry requirement is taking a 35-hour-long course either in person or online. I’ve chosen the online option and must have one of the most boring presenters. Combine that with a rather technical 619-page-thick study book and learning has become just a tiny bit more challenging. Or maybe it’s just me getting older and am finding it more difficult to get back into the formal way of learning?

Certainly, I can’t be the only adult learner. So what are others doing to maximise their study time and stay on track? How can you make studying while having a demanding job and family life as pain-free and as much fun as possible? Here are my suggestions for effective studying:

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Take care of yourself

It’s now almost 19 years ago that I lost a loved one to cancer. It was heart breaking to see Gladys get eaten up by numerous tumours. Every time we thought things were improving, there was a new and more shocking diagnosis than the one before. This experience had such an impact on my life that supporting the fight against cancer is my number one health cause.

You probably know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The last few years have shown the significant improvements which education, early detections and a balanced lifestyle can have on breast cancer prevention and treatment. You owe it to yourself to look after yourself!

While it’s still not known what causes breast cancer, there are a few things you can do for yourself:

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