Twenties Life

Girls are sexy. Girls are hot. Girls are an amazing creature that get us all nervous and flustered. It seems crazy, but girls can do the littlest things, and those little things just drive us wild. It may seem mysterious, but here are some things that girls do that have us eating out of the palm of their hands.

Ladies, please don’t exploit these things to hook us. We are incapable of defending ourselves against the sexiness of the things listed below.

Painted Toe Nails: Painted finger nails are pretty, but painted toe nails are sexy. It’s like taking a rock and turning into a diamond. It takes our minds to places we aren’t used to it going. Definitely do it!

Your Brain: Guys have gotten a bad rep for only finding physical beauty attractive. That’s just not the case. We love nerds and cheerleaders alike. A girl with sophistication and intelligence can hold our attentions for way longer than the ditsy dancer. Stimulate our mind and you’ll have us forever.

Jeweled Hair Clips: This one might just be me, but when a girl wears one of these in her hair, I see a princess. It’s gorgeous, beautiful, and classy. Find an excuse and rock these things often!

Cheeky Underwear: I’m going to be brutally honest. As much as we love imagining you (wearing very little clothing), we love seeing it even more. But there is some sort of stigma that comes with a thong. Sure, we love it. But it seems a little unclassy. Cheeky underwear offer the perfect mixture of visual sexuality and imagination. We dig um!

Smelling Good: Guys love to smell girls. We get a wiff of those pheromones and we just want more. A spritz of sweet smelling perfume or body spray is all it takes to get us to notice you. If you catch us smelling your hair or neck, that pretty much means we’re in love.

T-shirt and Jeans: As much as we all love the Belle of the Ball, it’s just too much maintenance to deal with all the time. That’s why we also love the t-shirt and jeans girl. She’s low maintenance, and still so sexy. Extra bonus points for baseball tees and caps.

Laughing at our jokes, and making some of your own: Humor is the difference between a cute girl and an awesome girl. If you can make some jokes, or even just appreciate ours, you’ll make that jump. And trust me, we never let awesome girls go.

Your Nurturing Side: Most guys wont admit it, but when things are rough and times are tough, we want someone there who can make us feel better the way our moms did when we scrape our knee. Be that girl for us and we’ll love you forever.

Your Softness: Men spend their entire lives being taught to be strong, and tough, and hard. It’s a gift to have a woman who is soft, with smooth skin, a soft voice, and a soft heart. Be our pillow. We’ll kill all the bugs, take out the trash, and do all the other manly stuff.

Pony tails: Pony tails are a double edged sword. They are cute and sexy. They are youthful and sexual. They are simple, yet drive us wild. Next time you are considering putting that hair in a bun, think again. Pony tail = Sexy, bun = old lady.

So there you have it. It doesn’t take much to impress a guy. We’re simple creatures and we have simple interests. But I’m sure I haven’t covered all the things that drive us wild, so scroll down below and share with us what drives you wild.

What does your dessert choices say about you?

List below are 8 dessert choices, pick your favorite in 3, 2, 1.5, 1.25, 1… GO!

1. Angel food
2. Brownies
3. Lemon Meringue
4. Vanilla with Chocolate Icing
5. Strawberry Shortcake
6. Chocolate on Chocolate
7. Ice Cream
8. Carrot Cake

Ok, so you picked one out, right? Are you confident in your choice? Are you sure? Great! List below are the personality traits and characteristics that would typically be seen in a person that would choice your dessert. Is the description true about you? Check to find out.

Angel Food: People that typically enjoy a nice helping of angel food are sweet, loving, and cuddly. They love all warm and fuzzy items. A little weird. Others perceive you as being child-like and immature at times.

Brownies: Characterized as being adventurous, seeking out new avenues in life, champions of underdogs, and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you fight to the death. You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You tend to be very loyal.

Lemon Meringue: Smooth, sexy, &articulate with your hands, you are an excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don’t try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, but you have many friends.

Vanilla with Chocolate Icing: Fun-loving and humorous, everyone loves being around you. The practical joker of the group, you tend to be very indecisive and lack motivation. You are a friend for life, but watch out for your temper

Strawberry Short Cake:  Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt. You can be overly emotional and annoying at times.

Chocolate on Chocolate:  Sexy, creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate. You definitely have a cold hard wall up, but for those few who get through it you invite with warmth. Not afraid to take chances and won’t settle for mediocrity. A lover of laughter.

Ice Cream:  A definite sports enthusiast. The controller of the remote control and a bit self-centered and high maintenance.

Carrot Cake: A fun-loving person, whose enjoys a good laugh. Warm-hearted and quirky, you have many loyal friends.

The idea of being happy seems so simple and yet people struggle, too often, with keeping this mentality continuous in their lives. This is not to say that we all don’t get the blues or sometimes hit a patch of trouble, but getting back to that state of mind seems like an upward climb on a day-to-day basis.  Society has made a killing on our misery and erratic state of mind; whether it is the countless motivational seminars, the self-help books, or even the #1 Billboard Hit that tells you to be happy.

We have been prescribed to do, say, feel, and even visualize things for the sole purpose of filling up that happiness meter that seems to constantly run on empty. Most of these magical cures do a lot more damage than good. The idea that one single action or a single declaration of happiness will keep us on the straight and narrow is as bad as a sales pitch from a pyramid scheme investor who “earned” $100,000 dollars from working at home selling scouring pads. It doesn’t make sense, but it still entices us. These delusions don’t work for our long term happiness.

The tricks of the trade are just that; tricks. Don’t be persuaded to attempt any of the following.

“Treating” yourself will make you happy.

One of the most preached and practiced ideas to fixing the blues. In theory, it make absolute sense, but the way we seem to practice it foils our end goal. The type of treat is what makes this piece of advice bad for us. The type of treat that is being inferred are ones that are good for us such as a long walk in the park, reading a book, going swimming, working out or going on an “adventure.” We tend to make the term “treat” synonymous with indulging in a guilty pleasure. The repercussions of this way of thinking leads to future feelings of guilt, loss of self, or just makes us sulk even more. Don’t look to the world for your happiness, look within.

When treating ourselves, we seem to revert to looking for physical things that do nothing for our overall well-being: a new outfit, bumming around, one more cigarette, a drink, a pint of ice cream, or an expensive entrée. The loss of self control, initially, seems uplifting, but will it make you feel better in the long run? The tiny buzz you get from that moment of ecstasy deepens the mood you were in, because your life has been more disordered than before. So stop giving yourself to things that create a mess of your life, and start bringing a sense of peace and order that was missing. Tighten up those loose screws, and when you are hit by a hard blow in life make sure they stay tightened.  Stop skipping out on the gym, stop eating “fake” foods, and don’t skip out on responsibility.

The next time you feel yourself needing to justify a treat or giving way to mindless behaviors, ask yourself: Will it do more harm than good? Will it cause more disorder in my life?

“Outer order brings inner calm.” –Gretchen Rubin

A life of leisure will make you happy

We all have fantasies and dreams of endless vacations, extravagant parties, and endless indulgence. This idea of enjoying life by not doing anything is a fool’s dream. This life quickly turns into a life of boredom and monotony. Harvard Psychology Professor Tal Ben-Shahar came to the understanding that in spite of all your freedoms, you cannot be happy without work. Not necessarily a 9 to 5 job, but something that gives you purpose, work that make you productive while enjoying a fulfilling activity. If you are stuck in a rut, or seem to find yourself in a state of constant unhappiness, ask yourself these two questions: What makes me happy? Do I have a purpose in life?

Immerse yourself in an environment that brings out you inner happiness, and I’m not talking about rainbows, puppies, and candy. The dream of making so much money that you never have to make anymore will bring you face-to-face with the greatest challenge you’ve ever dealt with it: yourself. Seek something more concrete that will promote long term happiness and sustain you even in the hard times. If you have negativity around constantly, you can’t flourish. Discard it, and seek new refuge.

How do you define yourself? What do you want to achieve? Make goals in your life, both short-term and long-term. Regardless of how minute the goal might appear to be, relish in the achievements of them. Most people fall because they don’t set short term goals alongside their long term ones. Whether it is doing 5 extra push-ups, keeping up with your laundry, reconnecting with old friends, befriending a random person, or even smiling more often. All these goals push you towards a better you. Short term goals give a person the boost they need to reach towards their next long term goal.

While enjoyable for the moment, a life without of leisure and materialism never quenches the desire for true life-long happiness. Understand your strengths and weakness, and make them play to your benefit. A person who isn’t willing to look inwardly as to who they truly are is living blind. The fantasy of treating yourself to your heart’s desire and living in leisure is just that; fantasy.

This is part 3 in a 3 part series.  Check out part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t already.

Now that we’ve covered many of the things that could be potential pitfalls early on in the relationship, let’s talk about a few things that will build a relationship that will last a lifetime.  These are the icing on the cake, the roof on the house.  I hope you’ll give each of these points serious consideration when preparing for marriage.

Stay Fit For Your Partner:  If either of you starts to let yourself go, it could be detrimental to your relationship.  Avoid any crushed feelings or dips in your sex life and health by taking the time to stay fit.  Your partner will show his/her appreciation.

Start traditions:  Traditions are the things that make history in marriages.  For instance, “Naked Saturdays” (ok, I just made that up, but it sounds like lots of fun).  Create little traditions between you and your partner to spicen up the routine and/or keep things interesting.

Never, ever just say no:  There is nothing that closes the lines of communication or sharing like a flat, lonely “NO.”  Don’t EVER do it.  If there is any reason to say no to anyone, start of with an explanation.  No is one of those things that immediately isolates you from a person.  Do your best to stay away from it.

Believe in his/her capabilities:  People feel a sense of identity in what they think they are good at.  Take that away from them and you’re telling them that they aren’t who they like to think they are.  It can be crushing on their ego, which will be devastating on your marriage.  Always believe in him/her.

Affirm his Accomplishments:  Men don’t just like to be patted on the back, we require it.  Compliment us as often as is relevant.  Don’t just tell him he’s handsome.  Tell him he’s good at something he actually works at, like his job, or a hobby.  When it’s something he has control over, it means so much more.

Accept Him/Her:  People get hurt and angered when their partners try to change them.  Realize you can only change yourself and move forward.  Leave him/her alone.

Discuss outside friendships:  Some people are ok with cross-gender friendships, and others aren’t.  Talk about this.  Be prepared to make a sacrifice.  Keep an open mind.  Just try your best.

Keep your intimate details private:  There is nothing that makes a spouse feel disrespected or uncared for like sharing intimate details of your relationship with someone else.  Many times when people are having a rough time in their marriage, they seek an outside person of the same gender as their spouse to get a man’s perspective, or a woman’s perspective if you’re a guy.  DON’T EVER DO THIS.  It’s playing with fire!

Always assume the best:  He looks like he’s flirting.  She dresses in a way you think is inappropriate.  Sometimes your partner will do things that you don’t like/approve of.  Instead of assuming their motive is exactly what you think or what it looks like, assume the best.  Communicate with him/her about how it made you feel, instead of what you think it was.  This will allow him/her to explain themselves without feeling threatened.

I know we’ve covered a lot throughout this series, but marriage isn’t like choosing your next meal or even buying your next car.  Marriage is choosing your future.  It takes a lot of thought and consideration.  It takes learning about yourself, and learning about others.  It takes sacrifice.  It requires work, even when the rest of life is getting in the way.  Marriage can be one of the most amazing parts of life if it is allowed to mature properly, with both parties doing there part.  I’m getting married in 33 days, and with the points that I’ve outlined here, and some quiet time to really ponder them, I know I’ll be ready.

Wish me luck as I take the plunge…

To many people the idea of starting a business seems like a complex process that takes a significant amount of time and effort to accomplish. For some multinational corporations in the Fortune 500 that hire lawyers, accountants and advisers by the hundreds then certainly a business re-organization or spin off can be a complicated process but for those of us who simply want to start our own small business it’s so easy that in fact we could do it today!

Even if you have grand ambitions for your business then there is certainly nothing wrong with starting small. After all, Microsoft was started in a garage, Facebook was started from a dorm room, and Google was started out of a Stanford research lab.

Here are some down and dirty tips that you can use as action items for starting up your very own business immediately and then get right down to work building your business and actually making some money!

#1 You are NOT Required to Incorporate

It’s always a smart thing to form some type of business entity for your business. In fact, you can incorporate or form an LLC for free or close to free at MyCorporation.com (not including any state filing fees involved). While forming a business entity is a good thing because you enjoy some form of liability protection it is in no way, shape, or form a requirement for starting your business.

If you decide to postpone incorporating/forming an LLC then that is perfectly fine because in the eyes of the law you will just be conducting business as a sole proprietor (if you are an individual) or a partnership (if there are two or more owners of the business).

Many successful businesses function as sole proprietorships or partnerships and although not the optimal business structure because of potential liability issues it should certainly serve as an example of the fact that in many cases you don’t even need to file one scrap of paperwork before you start conducting your business! (Note: Although once your business idea pans out and you start to make some money then it’s always a good idea to then start deciding on what business structure you should choose).

Money Saving Tip: Many places will charge you money to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS (essentially a Social Security Number for businesses) when in fact you can apply for an EIN at the IRS website online for free (and it only takes a few moments)!

#2 Look for Online Solutions

The beauty of starting a business with an online presence, maybe even ONLY an online presence, is that the cost of doing business online is relatively very cheap in contrast to opening a brick and mortar store.

It could take thousands to lease office space, set up and outfit a retail store, etc. but with less than $50 in your pocket you could find a domain name, choose a hosting plan, set up WordPress, create an online store, and start putting your business idea into practice!

With startup costs so low in an online venture then you A) Have the freedom to try out various strategies and various business ideas with minimal financial risk and B) You can forego looking for angel investors and bank loans and rather just plop down your credit card to make the few infrastructure purchases you need to get your website up and running.

#3 Quit Obsessing Over Details

The temptation for many when it comes to starting a business is to obsess over every little detail and to refuse to launch their business until “everything is exactly right”. Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you but every single little thing is rarely going to end up exactly right so taking the first step and simply bringing some type of product or service to market and then iteratively working to improve is often the best strategy. What are you waiting for? As any present value calculator will tell you the more you delay the more the time value of money principle starts working against you rather than for you. Get started creating your business today!

Joel is a CFP™ and the founder of 4 different businesses. Some of his most recent undertakings include websites for comparing car insurance quotes, reviewing health insurance companies, and learning about all other types of insurance.

This is part two in a multi-part series.  Missed part 1?  Check it out here.

Alright.  So we’ve covered some great points so far.  But marriage is a life long commitment (though statistics wouldn’t say so…) and we really have to ensure we haven’t missed anything.  Here are some more things to think about when preparing yourself for marriage in your twenties.

Don’t expect your spouse to know anything:  This is something that I’ve found women often do.  They expect that men will understand simple things like telling you you’re beautiful as often as you need.  The sad fact is that us men are pretty simple creatures, and because of that we are sometimes stupid to your needs.  But you know what we are really good at?  Doing the things we know how to do.  What does this mean?  It means if he knows what you need, he can be the best at giving it to you.  Understand that our egos are invested in our relationship, which means that not only will we work hard to please you, but we’ll work hard for our own reputation.  We pride ourselves on knowing that we are good at what matters to us.  Make it easy for us. Give us the instructions.  We’ll put things together.

Discuss In-Laws Boundaries: Too often one spouse or the other will have parents who get involved.  That’s not the problem though (parents are just trying to help).  The problem is that the other spouse feels like their toes are being stepped on.  Discuss with your partner how often, when, and how you want your parents to get involved in your marriage.  Remember that your loyalty is, and always should be, to your spouse.

Division of Labor:  There will always be a lot to do, and if it isn’t decided soon and often it will lead to problems.  Negotiate the chores and ALWAYS do your share.  Also, be compassionate when your partner forgets, or doesn’t pull their own weight.  Help them when you can.  The appreciation will be there.

Fight Fairly:  There’s nothing more scary than a partner who goes over the top in a fight.  Things are said or done, and egos and feelings are beaten.  If your spouse really is your life partner, you should NEVER attack them.  No matter what they do, you chose them, and you should stand by your choice.  A fight can include addressing needs not met, feelings, and opinions.  But when it becomes hurtful or offensive, realize that you crossed the line, and that you are now in the wrong.  Don’t cross that line.

Respect Your Partner:  It’s easy to remember what you’ve sacrificed for your partner.  It’s easy to remember all of the things you do to ensure a successful marriage.  But it’s difficult to assume that your partner has done things and made sacrifices that you aren’t aware of.  Always be respectful to your partner, no matter what the situation.  Assume that they are working harder than you, and respect the hard work, regardless of your observation.  Always do as much as you can, and then some more.

Learn New Things Together:  There is nothing that builds a bond like learning and doing new things together.  It’s an awesome experience and it leads two people to feel closer to each other.  Take some time each week to spend learning with your partner.  It will allow you to spend time together and is a great friendship building technique.  Plus, you’ll learn from each other, and that’s a wonderful experience as well.

Spend Time Alone:  Marriage doesn’t mean that you join at the hip and can only do things together and with other couples.  Chances are you both had friends before marriage.  You should keep up those friendships and have a social life that isn’t dependent on your partner.  A sudden loss of individuality can lead to unnecessary strain on your marriage.

Don’t Compare Your Marriage To Others:  Many times people will get to talking and all of a sudden you’ll feel like there is a problem in your marriage because of something someone else’s spouse says or does.  Resist the urge to compare your marriage to someone else’s.  Your marriage is unique, and what it requires is very different then what anyone else requires.  Treat it as such.

Live in Reality:  After the honeymoon you’ll start to realize that life isn’t paradise, and that your partner is a human.  Let me fill you in on a few realities:

1. Women DO poop, and contrary to popular belief, it does stink.
2. Men DO fart, and not just a little.
3. Women DO take a long time to get ready, and men DO get annoyed having to wait.
4. People snore, steal covers, and kick in their sleep.
5. Men get sweaty.
6. Women have periods.
7. Married life is work, not just play.
8. Your in-laws are your family now, like it or not.
9. People repeat themselves often.  Instead of reminding them that you’ve heard the story, listen to it again.  And again.  And again.  Life is too short, even if those stories aren’t.
10. You can go to bed angry, and there will be times when you do.  Don’t make him or her sleep on the couch, he/she doesn’t deserve that.
11. Let your partner do things his way when he does them, and you do them your way when it’s your turn.
12. Don’t ask your fella if anything makes you look fat.  He loves you, and he’ll always try his best to make you feel good.  Take a look in the mirror and just decide.
13. Boys like to do things that some girls might find crazy, like making any car they own either faster or taller, riding a motorcycle, sky diving, owning so many tools you think he’s crazy, always wanting a new gadget, working out all the time, hanging with the guys as often as you’ll allow it, playing video games for days at a time, etc.
14. Girls like to do things that boys might find crazy, like buying very large amounts of makeup, getting her nails done, spending hours to get ready, trying on multiple outfits before choosing the right one, thinking it’s important for guys to do things a certain way, they cry a lot, and sometimes at the strangest moments,etc.

You may have already known about that last one, but it’s easy to get caught up in the fantasy of marriage and forget that you’re both still human.  You have to learn to live together through all of the good and bad.  There will be things you don’t like about your spouse, and you need to suck it up and just live with it.

There’s plenty more to come in part 3 of the series.  Stay tuned!

For over 100 years the average age of marriage has been in the twenties.  It makes sense.  Most join the workforce in their twenties, get a footing into adulthood, meet someone who they connect with, and naturally, many decide to tie the knot.

But few put much thought into what they need to do to prepare for marriage, aside from simple logistics and such.  It’s no wonder so many marriages end in divorce.  Ask yourself this question: when taking a road trip, do you jump in your car and just start driving?  I know I don’t.  I plan the route, pack everything I need, and even bring a few “just in case” items.  I like to know what’s ahead of me when I’m about to approach something new.  So why do so many people enter into marriage without a good plan?  I can’t answer that, but I can ensure that you know what you need to do to prepare for marriage.  Hopefully with some work and a little fairy dust you can get a better idea of what it will take from you to ensure a good marriage.

This is part one in a multi-part series.  As the series progresses, links will be shared at the bottom of each post to ensure that you don’t miss any of it.

Disclosure: I’m no marriage therapist or counselor.  I’m just a writer who likes to learn about the things that are important to me, and when I do, naturally I like to share them with people who could benefit from them.

Communication: It’s the most important part of a marriage, and yet so few people REALLY do it.  There’s a difference between talking about what you want for dinner and what you expect from each other.  When they say communication is key they mean genuine, deep communication.  Ever notice how so many people talk to their friends about the problems in their relationships?  Most of them never even communicate those problems to their parter, the person who has the power to make the changes…  It’s sad really.

Listen:  Too often people hear communication and think it means you have to talk.  And too often people neglect the more important part of communication.  That’s why I’ve separated it here.  The most important part of communicating is the listening part.  It’s sometimes scary to express needs to your partner, so when it does finally happen be sure that you are listening and understanding exactly what they are saying.  If you are a good talker you’ll have a good marriage.  If you are a great listener you’ll have a fantastic marriage.

Adjust:  Marriage isn’t like dating…  when you date it’s important to assess the person for compatibility and letting them know you for you.  By the time marriage comes, you should be past that point.  You should be ready to adjust some of your habits, beliefs, and practices for a smooth, healthy relationship.  That’s right folks, marriage means sacrifice.  Sometimes you’ll have to give up a little, and every once in a while you’ll have to give up a lot to make things work.  Marriage isn’t just about the other person giving you everything you need in life, it’s a bridge of partnership that if made too rigid will crumble.  Keep things flexible.

Define Self:  Many people enter into marriage with love blinders on, and a few years (or even months) down the line they don’t even recognize themselves anymore.  If you don’t know who you are, what you stand for, and where you want to be, you will lose yourself quickly in marriage.  Making sacrifices in marriage doesn’t mean giving up self.  If you don’t know exactly who you are, you have no business getting married.  Find yourself first.  Then find love.

Have goals: It’s important to be working towards something, both as a couple and individually.  Inspire each other.  Have a plan for your life together.  Have a plan for your own success.  Work hard and become great both together and personally.

80/20 not 50/50:  Recognize this:  If both partners consider marriage a 50/50 commitment, then if either slip up or get lazy, then the marriage isn’t getting 100% of what it needs.  But when each partner considers marriage an 80/20 commitment (meaning each puts 80% into it, and expect only 20% from each other), then you’ll always put more than enough work into your relationship, and when you get more than your expected 20% back you’ll always be happy.

Sex:  It’s one of the most cited reasons for divorce, aside from money.  You know what you expect from your partner sexually, but chances are your partner doesn’t.  Have the talk, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.  Realize that this talk will never be more uncomfortable than when you find out a couple of months in that you are a pretty vanilla sexual person and your partner is a freak-in-the-sheets.  Here are some of the things you should communicate sexually:

1. How many times per week (average of course):
2. What are you into:  make a detailed list of things you are into, could be into, and aren’t interested in.  Share with your partner
3. What you wouldn’t do:  Make that list too, and make sure your partner understands.
4. What you find ideal:  The easiest way so satisfy someone is to know what they want, right?  Help your partner be the best for you.

Discuss Finances:  Have a plan.  Know who’s paying for what.  Forget about gender roles.  You are a team, and if you have a plan that both of you can commit to, you’ll do better than anyone who plays by any sort of “role”.

Forgiveness:  Another thing that ruins relationships is people who say they forgive but don’t.  If you’ve forgiven your partner for something, it’s a terrible thing to do to bring it up in a later fight.  It’s like a punch in the kidneys, and they will feel attacked.  Try your hardest to always forgive, and once you do, let it go.  If it comes up later, you didn’t REALLY let it go, now did you?

More to come in part 2…

First off, let me say this: I am receiving no compensation for this review. I am writing this review because I’ve used this product for over a year, and it is one of the greatest programs I’ve ever used.

For many years the easiest way to transfer files from one computer to another was a disk. Then innovation changed the game with flash media, or USB  flash drives and memory cards. The biggest problem with this is that you must have the media with you when you need it. If you forget your disk or flash drive, you cannot get the media off of it.

The founder of Dropbox realized that this was not the most effective way. Out of frustration of forgetting his drives or losing them, and creativity with software innovation, Dropbox was born.

Dropbox uses cloud computing to create an “internet flash drive” of sorts. You install the software onto your computer, smartphone, or mobile device. Then from any device where your software is installed (or any device that has access to internet) you can add any files to the Dropbox folder and it is automatically synced to every other device that has Dropbox installed.

Forget about carrying your flash drive with the important document on it. Forget about emailing your document to yourself to retrieve later. Forget about connecting your phone to the data cable to transfer files. Just throw the file in your Dropbox, and access the Dropbox from your other device and the file will automatically be there.

But what if your work computer doesn’t have Dropbox? Or what if you are using someone elses computer and you just want to grab a file from your Dropbox? Well, all you have to do is log into your Dropbox online at www.Dropbox.com and you have access to all of your Dropbox files via their web interface.

Never again will you have to carry your files. Your files are on the internet (and every device which you’ve installed Dropbox onto), and you can access them anywhere in the world.

Also you can share “shared” folders with other Dropbox users. This means when you have to work on a project with a fellow student or co-worker, you can share a folder with them and put the files in it. Then you both have access to the files, and they are updated in real time, meaning you wont have to get a new copy from each other every time a change is made. Brilliant!

And there’s nothing to lose. Dropbox offers a free account with 2gb of storage, and when I refer you, we both get an extra 250mb (referral link here). You may not want to use it to store movies, but documents, music, pictures, and even software will fit just fine. And if you decide you love it as much as I do, there are paid accounts that offer much more storage.

So go ahead and sign up for the free account. I’ve used it for more than a year now and have no intention of ever stopping. It’s the greatest software I’ve ever used, and I guarantee that you’ll fall in love with it too!

TwentiesLife is a business.  That’s obvious.  But what’s not so obvious is what is required to run such a business.  I’ve run blog style websites for over 3 years now, and while I’m still no expert (haven’t made my millions yet), I know what it takes to run such a site.

Simply put, you need a lot of geeky computer gear.  Or maybe just one awesome computer packed with all your necessary software.  I recently was given the opportunity to test such a computer, built with the small business owner in mind (Full Disclosure: I was lent this computer, along with two monitors, on a long term loan to do a full review).  Let me start by saying this:  this computer isn’t going to run your favorite hardcore 3D games, nor would I suggest using it for hardcore video, audio, or image rendering.  But for what a business requires, and for the price it’s offered at, this computer does great.

So what computer are we talking about?  Why it’s the Lenovo A63 Desktop computer.  Capable of supporting multiple monitors (two out of the box, but you can add a video card for more), with a fast hard drive (7200 rpm), a lot of space (320 gb) and a snappy processor (AMD tri-core).  It also comes with Windows 7 pre-installed.  And in case you haven’t used Windows 7, it’s the best thing windows has made since Windows 98SE.

So I’ve decided to use this computer for everything I need to run TwentiesLife and my web design company, FinestDesignest.com.  I write my posts on it, create the images, do all the web editing and designing, run the social campaigns, etc.  I even control the computer remotely from work, school, etc.  And I do all of my torrent downloading on this dedicated machine.  This computer is capable of it all.  And with the two 19 inch Lenovo screens that it came with, it does it all with style.

I’ll be honest.  Being a computer nerd, I’d love to have more power.  Not because my work lagged or there were any shortcoming of this computer (because there weren’t).  Just because I am a power hog.  But when it comes to pricing a computer for business use, and you consider that many businesses need multiple computers, you build something with price in mind as much as power.  And the Lenovo A63 is the perfect balance of power and price.  And being backed with the Lenovo name, it’s definitely something worth considering when choosing your small business’s computing solution.

Like all internet reviews, you need to consider what you need and choose accordingly.  Maybe you’ll need more, maybe you’ll need less.  But if this computer fits your needs, I’d suggest picking one up.  You won’t regret it.  You can customize and buy your Lenovo A63 here.

To get a jump start on summer, we decided to do some research and find out what gadgets will really make this the best possible summer.  We’ve come up with some gadgets that will be fun, some to capture the coolest moments of the summer, and some to relax and enjoy some down time.  These gadgets should really boost your summer break.  So grab these awesome gadgets and really enjoy your summer break!

Apple iPad 16 GB

The Apple iPad is the gadget of the year.  Everyone want’s to get there hands on it.  Be the first in your group to have one!

Amazon Kindle

Some might ask, “why get the kindle if you already got an iPad?”  The fact is that it’s easier on the eyes to read from a kindle than an iPad.  Don’t want to carry your books everywhere you go?  Now you don’t have to.

Apple Macbook

Macbooks are pretty awesome.  They are shiny, packed with good hardware, and you don’t have to worry about getting viruses.  Tired of your windows machine running slowly?  Get a Mac.

Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes

Capture every awesome moment this summer with your shiny new FlipCam.  It records in 720p HD, which means you can even shoot some home-made movies.  Gather your friends and come up with a story.  You could be the next youtube sensation!

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera

Canon SD series point and shoot cameras are the best I’ve ever used.  The pictures come out so clear, the colors rich, and they are just super easy to use.  You don’t even have to mess with any settings.  Just put it on auto and click away!  Summer never looked so good!

Apple iPod touch 32 GB (3rd Generation)

With the hundreds of thousands of great apps in itunes, how could you possibly afford not to use one of these awesome gadgets?  And you can even carry your music and favorite photos and videos on this awesome device as well.  Don’t think, just purchase!

Garmin nüvi 780 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Now you won’t get lost on your way to the Grand Canyon, or Daytona Beach, or wherever this summer may find you.  This even has traffic updates!  Can’t beat that!

So if you stockpile these awesome gadgets, and add a dash of creativity, you’re bound to have some stories, videos, and pictures of your greatest summer ever.  What will you use these gadgets for?