Xmarks
This in my opinion is a must have service. It enables you to backup and sync your bookmarks across multiple computers and browsers via browser addons. For example I use firefox on a laptop, but often use Google Chrome on a desktop. Xmarks manages one set of bookmarks. The bookmarks are listed as normal and when I add a new bookmark, I just sync. Also I can optionally log into a webpage and view a list. Ideal if I’m away from both machines and a useful backup. www.xmarks.com

Dropbox

Talking of backups, dropbox is another nifty service. You signup, install their small piece of software and hey presto you have a virtual backup folder on your computer. Plus install dropbox on another machine to share and manage files. Can’t configure network sharing? Fed up of thumbdrives? An ideal alternative, plus again you can login via a web browser and view the files. You can even use a public shared folder to share with the masses.

The basic free dropbox package provides 2gig of data! That’s more than enough for many and you can top it up to a maximum of 3gig for free if you refer people. So if you want another 250mb today at signup, click here. That will also give me 250mb more.

Google Reader
Chuck the rss feed of a blog, site, twitter account… whatever and Google Reader provides the ideal interface to manage your feeds. For years I used Mozilla Thunderbird for rss feeds (as well as email). However with Google reader I’m not limited to one machine. www.google.com/reader

Twitter
I’ve spent a couple of years at least using the social network. I’ve met some fantastic people. I learnt from others, fantastic insight into cultures, been inspired, enjoyed following people and a bit of water cooler chat chucked in. When people don’t ‘get’ twitter I don’t care, their lose. www.twitter.com

Feedburner
Another Google service, but one google brought. Chuck in a RSS feed and you can chuck out something with more RSS options, enable email subscriptions and more. Obviously you probably should only use this for your own feeds.

It makes the list because even in this day and age I will still read an email before reading my RSS feeds. I wish more people used the email subscription of feedburner on their sites, especially small businesses who rarely update their feeds. I would then subscribe to their content, forget and they could update me every so often. Ideal for them writing something once and provides more choice to everyone else. feedburner.google.com

Evernote
Upload, search and organise documents, ideas, images, web snippets etc via various platforms. Initially I didn’t use it often, but now I do. Plus they have a great firefox addon.  I never upload confidential bits n’ bobs and I still use  notebooks (the paper kind that is) during the day for work and personal life. However this service, coupled with it’s excellent firefox addon has reduced the amount of paper I use. www.evernote.com

Yahoo Pipes
Ideal for site admins. I’ve only just begun to explore the powerful features. Pull various data feeds together, sort, merge and all sorts, then chuck out. It’s easy to use and they provide a great flowchart interface. I’m already using this service, but plan to spend more time seeing what can be done. pipes.yahoo.com

Well hope you find a gem or two suitable for you here and let me know what you think or provide your own recommendations.

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Did I start the morning with a strong mug of tea, eat a cheese sandwich at lunch, and plan a fry up with a pint of beer at dinner? The answer is no. Okay I don’t actual drink beer at dinner, but you get the picture.  Today I’ve eaten like I did during the challenge. The month was a good enough time period to take proper view and feel the benefits. There was no, thank feck that is over and rushing to the nearest greasy spoon. Have I felt like eating some items, sure.

The challenge was no mount everest, but was rewarding never the less. I slept better (apart from when I was recently ill), was more productive and felt better. I don’t often weigh myself, but probably lost weight also. If you didn’t join in, you should consider your own food & drink challenges. To those who joined in, congratulations. I tip my hat to you all.

Now onto other challenges.

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Carrot and Lentil Soup

Here is a fantastic soup recipe that anybody can cook. This recipes makes approximately four to six portions.

Ingredients

250g Red lentils
1 to 1.5kg Carrots
2 to 4 onions
2 pints boiling water
3 heaped table spoons of Knorr vegetable stock granules
1 tablespoon of oil

Method

1. Peel and chop all the carrots
2. Chop the onions into wedges and then seperate
3. Heat oil in a very large saucepan
4. Add onions and sweat until translucent
5. Add carrots and lentils
6. Mix stock powder with boiling water and pour into pan
7. Once at the boil simmer for approximately 45 mins to an hour (or until all veg and lentils are soft. Lentils will turn a lighter colour and have enlarged slightly)
8. Once cooled use a blender to blend to consistancy of your choice

Best served with fresh bread.

Enjoy.

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The knock on effect though has also been good, it helps motivate in other areas. At the same time we’ve still not been having items like chocolate and other food such as chips, pizza etc. Plus I’ve seriously reduced the amount of bread I eat during the challenge. Not a little bit, but a huge reduction and the challenge has made that easier.

With valentine’s day on Sunday.  Even though it’s not about the food or drink at all, we’ve forward planned food & drink with the challenge in mind. My girlfriend joining in the challenge from the beginning has made a huge difference, otherwise it would of been harder. Not only for one half of a couple to take part, but also for the support she provides. I am a very luck chap.

I’ve heard back from some of the others doing their feb food & drink challenges. From amazing side benefits such as serious weight loss, better sleep to successfully sticking to the challenge or experiencing temporary hurdles. The fact that others have decided to join in, make the effort, think consciously about their food & drink, makes them stick out from the norm and is fantastic.

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How has my week gone?

I’ve slept far more this week and felt better for it. No doubt mainly due to no coffee or tea, plus not having other unhealthly bits n bobs. I’ve have felt a bit tired in the early mornings, but less so towards the end of the week and have been more relaxed, which has helped me with my job and also any stressful situations. Towards the end of a working day my productivity has still been very good and I’ve not suffered annoying headaches like I used to. So good on Friday that I tackled my Friday to do list and was onto Monday’s tasks.

What have I replaced tea with?

Variety! Due to abandoning caffeine, we have brought more variety of cordials. Plus we treated ourselves to a couple of bottles of tesco’s high juice. I’ve really been enjoying these and found myself increasing my water intake, which could of helped remove the afternoon headaches I sometimes got, plus other benefits.

What about the cheese?

Lunch wise not missing cheese at all. Again variety is important and soup, vegetarian pate (not unhealthly like meat versions) or soya slices with salad sandwiches have been great. Plus I’m eating more fruit in the morning and afternoons. There has been no snacking, unless a few pieces of fruit a day count.

Were dinners a challenge?

We’ve gone even further with dinners than just removing vegan mayo, brown and tomato sauce. We’ve removed most condiments also other than a hot sauce (very low calorie) and lemon juice. Keeping to our shopping budget we’ve introduced a few different meals this week. It’s been great and we’ve looked forward to evening meals (and with candlelight). Plus at no stage this week have I drunk any alcohol, which I have not done so far this year.

Even though I am a fairly relaxed positive outlook person, it’s been even more noticable this week. We’ve not broken the challenge once and other than missing tea to begin with, we are enjoying it.

Of course there is peer pressure around us. From people, adverts to locations and events. It’s like any challenge you have to take it on fully and to be honest not care about other peoples opinions or even motivations (or lack of) for being negative. No doubt team work has played a part and it’s been great to share this challenge with others.

Looking forward to week two.

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My girlfriend and I have started to put together a website about the Isle of Wight. A guide and resource for tourists and residents. It’s very early days and there isn’t a great deal there yet. Lots of updates to do, such as template work, more content, features etc.

We love the island and we are always taking photos, videos, visiting places, events etc. The website is a fun ongoing project for us and one I’m sure I will blog about here again soon.

If your interested in seeing the early site click here.

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For instance:

My girlfriend & I: Giving up coffee, tea, cheese, brown & tomato sauce, vegan mayo and booze.

Richard: Caffeine and chocolate.

Tom: No coffee after noon.

Update: 31st Jan – Cate & Rachael are also joining in the challenge.

Update: 1st Feb – Adele & Amber have also joined the challenge.

So why join in? You might need to go ‘cold turkey’ to give something up. You might be curious how you can cope and see if there are benefits such as better sleep, weight loss and more. Who knows and it doesn’t have to be permanent. I’m only giving up certain items on my list for just February.

So why not join us and leave a comment on what your giving up for February.

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I’m a vegetarian who is slowly adapting his lifestyle, along with and the help of his wonderful girlfriend. Last year I lost three stone and the weight lose is still ongoing, as is the lifestyle changes. In the bigger picture the lifestyle changes are part of my journey of life, as obviously with everyone. I’m keen to make choices and decisions today that will impact tomorrow in a more positive way, as well as the impact some of those decisions have on today. So challenging myself to continue to make changes, working as a team to accomplish and yes motivating myself solely to stick to a goal is part of the February challenge.

So what is the February challenge…

I have not drunk any alcohol this year or drunk a coffee. So I mentioned to my better half I was thinking of giving up tea during February. Not a big thing you might say. Now those who know me, will realise I drink a lot of tea. Not that much in the afternoon, but in the morning and yes I am a tea snob. No not brands that others deem snobby, but I know what I like and…. don’t like and what I like, I drink strong.

Anyhow the conversation expanded from not just giving up tea for February, but also brown sauce, cheese (which has crept back in slightly into our diet) and vegan mayo. So the full list is: No tea, coffee, brown sauce, vegan mayo, booze and cheese. Not counting the items we already don’t have such as pizza’s and other unhealthy items (which you can read about in an earlier post). Now my girlfriend has joined in the February challenge, which will make a huge difference.

So why am I doing this? I’m curious and determined to push myself, to experiment in lifestyle changes. You don’t see energetic five year olds running around saying… ‘i can’t live without my morning mug of tea’. No they run around with endless energy and yes I realise outlook on life is a part of this, along with other factors. Drink and Food  can become a ‘fix’. Something people don’t like to tackle, because of the ‘larger’ issues in their lifes, but the reality is they are connected.

Will I start drinking tea and having other items in March? Probably, I don’t know. Some items are fine in moderation and even beneficial. This is the February challenge, March I will think about closer to the time. I’m looking forward to it. Withdrawl, tolerance, motivation, team work, understanding, solutions and more.

So you are welcome to join me in the February challenge and list in the comments the items you are going to give up.  It could just be one item, like a morning coffee. If you think February is not the right time and can list reasons why, it probably is more suitable now more than ever. Whatever the case, it’s going to be interesting.

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