Designer Sold First Handbag to Bergdorf at Age 18

 Snapshot: Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando, handbag designer
Starting with a single handbag she designed and made herself, Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando has been creating and selling chic handbags to some of top retailers in the world. At the tender age of 18, she sold her first collection to Bergdorf Goodman while studying with the Fashion Institute of Photo Technology (FIT) in New York City.

Six years later, DiFerdinando has transformed her business from strictly high-end pieces to a more diverse and affordable collection of handbag designs. She started her business, Danielle Nicole, in 2006, and has since opened her own showroom in New York City in addition to selling her designs in such prestigious stores as Macy's, Nordstrom, and Coin in Italy. She strives to give her customers a runway-fashion look paired with function, at prices that often fall less than $100.

During her studies with FIT, DiFerdinando learned about design and production with European designers including Fendi, Hermes, Prada, and Armani. She went on to apprentice with companies such as Gucci and Anthony Luciano. She credits her father, co-owner of Boardwalk Fries, with helping her develop strong business savvy at an early age.

A native of Maryland, she lives in New York City with her dog, Cookie Monster.

Womenetics: How did you find your niche in such a competitive international market?
Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando: Focusing on fresh and innovative designs at the right value. I came from a contemporary marketplace and saw there was a void in the fast fashion handbag marketplace. I wanted to create something that was more of an impulse purchase than an investment. I never want one of my customers to have the feeling of guilt after purchasing a handbag. She should be happy and proud of herself and can’t believe she just spent $80 on a chic and functional handbag.

Womenetics: Where did you find the inspiration and confidence to create and market your own line of handbags at the young age of 18?
DiFerdinando: I have always loved designing handbags. I started my company when I was a freshman at FIT. During the summer of 2007, I was interning at Bergdorf Goodman, and the cosmetic buyer asked me to design a line of cosmetic bags. The success of the line was instantaneous, and I was subsequently asked to design a complete leather collection for the prominent department store. Orders from other luxury department and specialty stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lane Crawford, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom soon followed.

Womenetics: Who are the main customers you are trying to reach with your fashion and function twist on handbags? How do you reach out to that market?
DiFerdinando: My customer loves and appreciates fashion. She likes to pair designer pieces with her fast fashion pieces. My collection features unique modern and feminine detail that gives the product value.

Womenetics: How do you use social networking in your marketing? How important is social networking to the success of your business?
DiFerdinando: Social networking is very important in my industry. It’s a great way for me to connect with my customers and relate to them on a personal level. I use Facebook and Twitter to test out new products. I receive instant feedback that helps me and my design team know what design works and what doesn’t.

Womenetics: How did you get connected with the major European design houses, such as Hermes and Prada, and secure apprenticeships there? What important lessons did you learn during your European education?
DiFerdinando: I studied abroad at the European design houses during my freshman year at FIT. This is where I learned how to construct handbags. This is the No. 1 key to this industry. Know how to produce your product at every stage. I learned the ins and outs of designing, pattern making, leathers, workmanship, etc., when I studied in Europe.

Womenetics: Not all creative people also have the skills to run and grow a successful business. How do you balance your creative design side with the daily management needs of your company?
DiFerdinando: It’s not easy! It’s all about balance, having a clear view, and setting goals. I am a creative person, but I grew up surrounded by my father and his business, Boardwalk Fries. He is the one who taught me how to balance between the two.

Womenetics: How did you finance your first handbag design and the marketing of that design? How is that different from how you now fund your new design lines and marketing?
DiFerdinando: I financed my first handbag myself. The marketing was done through word of mouth. I would wear my handbag everyday when I interned at Bergdorf Goodman. The elevator was the best place to be spotted. Today my company is funded by FAB/Starpoint, and all marketing is done by Now and Zen publicity.

Womenetics: If there was one thing you could do differently from the last 10 years, what would it be?
DiFerdinando: I wouldn’t do anything different. I learn from my past experiences that have led me to where I am today. Everything that has happened has helped me learn and grow in some way.

Womenetics: What can we expect to see in your next line of handbags? Do you have plans to expand into other types of design, such as luggage?
DiFerdinando: The hottest item from our upcoming Fall 2011 line is the Sydney reversible tote. It is the perfect bag for going back to school, work, weekends, and the perfect gift for the new mom. I am working on building Danielle Nicole into a lifestyle brand. We will be soon expanding into other categories such as small leather goods, travel items, and luggage. Within the next five years, I plan on coming out with a shoe and home décor line as well.

Womenetics: What advice do you have for women business owners trying to grow their businesses in this hard economy?
DiFerdinando: Being 24 years old, I have learned a lot about life and business since moving to New York. Never let anything stop you from getting want you want. Your passion and drive will lead you to your goals. You will get what you want as long as you stay focused and motivated. Don't be scared to ask. What's the worst someone is going to say – “No?”

Womenetics: How do you like to relax and unwind?
DiFerdinando: I love working out. I look forward to spinning at Soul Cycle in New York. It’s the time where I can clear my head. I also love to travel. My favorite cities are Hong Kong and Paris. I love their cultures and ways of life.

A Day In The Life Of A Fictional Female Reporter

This Classic NEWSSVET Post originally ran on Apr 15, 2018.

9:17 am: Sleep with a source.

10:00 am: Sleep with my boss.

10:58 am: Find a powder-blue Oxford shirt that doesn’t quite button up over my breasts. Buy eight.

11:13 am: Internet.

11:45 am: Cultivate moxie, “stick-to-itive-ness.”

12:11 pm: Return to source’s house for more sex/to steal the incriminating book he keeps locked in his nightstand.

1:03 pm: Naked interview.

1:36 pm: Refuse to perform on-air puff piece about a cat show, demand to be allowed to

 tag along on big story; decide to strike out on my own and get to the bottom of things after being rebuffed.

2:27 pm: Sex on newsdesk.

3:00 pm: Sabotage source’s career in order to get the big scoop after sleeping with him one last time.

3:02 pm: Stare expressionlessly at computer monitor as if to say, “What have I done?”

4:15 pm: Publish big scoop, receive “well done” from boss I am sleeping with, whose approval I am no longer sure I want.

4:51 pm: Sex in press room during office party. Feels hollow, somehow.

5:39 pm: Return to source’s house for a quick round of hate-sex and then to help him find redemption. Together we’re going to find an even bigger scoop. And then I’m going to have sex with that scoop.

TIPS: How to Dust

Cleaning is one tedious chore. However, you need not always clean your house top to bottom every time. A bit of dusting and clutter runs here and there would stretch the time between hardcore cleaning.

Dusting has its own requirements and techniques to ensure that dust is effectively eliminated and that your furniture surfaces would be safe. Some think that wiping or brushing off dust using a feather duster is all there is into it. However, using the wrong materials can easily scratch and damage your furniture.

Cover your nose and mouth. If you think the cleaners of old look silly with their hair and faces covered with some cloth, think again. Dust is a well-known allergen. If you’re allergic to dust, investing on a mask to wear with overalls would be a good idea.

Dust cloths. A lot of dust cloths are commercially available nowadays. These are mostly chemically treated fabrics that conveniently pick up dust. If you don’t want to buy one, rummage through your old stuff and look for soft cotton fabrics or wool. These naturally absorb dust and would not scratch surfaces.

Dusting. Make sure that the cloth is clean before you start wiping. Dust and other particles can form an abrasive film on the cloth’s surface so make sure that you fold and turn you dust cloth once in a while.

Polishers. If you are going to use those commercial furniture cleaners, make sure to read the label on how to use them. It is better most of the time to spritz or spray the cleaner on the dust cloth rather than on the furniture.

Dusters. Feather dusters work by just whisking dust around. There are commercial dusters with handles that’s made from chemically treated fabrics that produce static to attract dust particles. If you want to go natural, a duster with wool head would be your best bet.

Work from top to bottom. As a guide to cleaning, it’s always go top to bottom. This way, dust that go airborne from higher places would settle down to lower places. This is to avoid dust from messing those surfaces that you’ve just cleaned.

Workplace Watch: How to Make Yourself Heard in the Office

What is your plan to achieve success in your work? If it’s kissing your boss’s ass every working day then forget it! We have way better methods. Work your way to the top by getting heard and be understood by your officemates. Know and learn what it takes to put forward your best ideas.

Communication techniques. Everyday, in the course of your work you talk to a variety of people. How do you become a good communicator and successfully adopt a communication aptitude that’s going to take you places? Number 1 — listen. Master your ability to listen and listen carefully. When your boss calls for a meeting, bring a pen and your notebook and take down key points in the discussion like you would in class. To make sure you are getting all your boss’ agenda, clarify these points before the meeting ends. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Pick your venue. You can’t just barge in your boss’ office and push your agenda. Not in his “house.” You have to pick spots. Perhaps subtle messages by the water cooler is a much better option. Remember that even in offices, territories exist. So pick more neutral grounds to get your message across.

Be aware if your boss’ expectations. Before anything else, know and keep in mind what your boss’ expects from you. Knowing what he wants and how he wants you to do your work will keep you focused on your deliverables. If you are strictly observing your duties and schedule then you won’t miss another deadline.

Planning and discussing a project effectively. When your boss suddenly announces that you have a new project but he’s not calling a meeting to plan and discuss the details, make sure to communicate using alternative methods. Email your boss about the project, ask specific questions about it, know when the deadline is for the whole preparations, and write these things down in your notebook. If you suddenly noticed that your boss has a few minutes to spare, ask if he can discuss with you the details about the new project. Nothing beats enthusiasm!

How to Deal with a Name-Calling Boss

He calls you “Four Eyes.” for Never mind if you’re already a ranking supervisor and he does it in front of other people. You know it’s unprofessional but he’s the man who calls the shots. But name-calling pisses you off. And there’s no way you should stand down.

Here’s what you could do to manage a name-calling boss:

• Deal with it in private
  Making a retort in public would just aggravate the matter. Don’t make it an eye for an eye. Know deep inside that you’re better than the person so don’t make the mistake of stooping down by dealing with him in public. Make a formal appointment to see him in private.
• Be calm
  Coming on too strong or sounding angry and aggravated would just cause sparks to fly. BUt make sure to inform him that calling you names is rude and uncalled for. You’ve got a decent nickname that people use.
• Apologies accepted
  If he’s a man who partially has the decency of a normal human being, he would probably apologize. If he does, then accept it gracefully.
• Resolve the matter
  With all been said, resolve the matter like true professionals. Just don’t make any more fuss about it and make the mistake of telling other people about the matter.

Keyword Real Estate

Hey guys and gals. Incase you didn’t notice I took a short break from posting to catch up on some work. Thanks for hanging out. Let’s review. In my SERP Domination post I spilled the beans about creating a site network by breaking down a larger site to take down the competition in a very efficient manner. This of course works beautifully in reverse, but we’ll save that for another day. In the mean time though I want to touch on a small portion of that post I could of easily divulged a hell of a lot more on. I’m talking about the “secondary network.” Incase you have short term memory loss I’ll refresh ya with a quote from the post.

[quote]Blah blah blah, sexist joke. Blah blah snarky remark. I’ll create a much larger secondary network to help boost my blah blah inbound link authority. Blah blah ramble ramble.[/quote]

In words longer than short I introduced the well proven concept of Keyword Real Estate. Keyword Real Estate isn’t just a concept its a practice. In fact scratch that. Keyword Real Estate is the law of high rankings just as sure as Murphy’s law will make your servers go down between 1-3am instead of 9-5pm. Practicing good keyword real estate snatching will help boost your sites. I will go as far as to say that it is unwise to enter any niche no matter how uncompetitive without grabbing up as much real estate related to your terms as possible. I’ll explain.

Domains, Free Hosting, Blog Networks, Social Networks, Social Bookmarking, URL Shorteners. The list goes on and on. Any where there is an authoritative domain that allows you to own a static page there is no reason why you shouldn’t register it and put up a landing page advertising your site(s), or even a simple link if that’s all that is possible. I’ll explain this in a simplistic white hat way using an analogy because this is in no gray or black hat about it, its just common sense business.

Imagine you live in a big city and you setup a small business. The local phone book directories want you to pay them to put a small business card sized ad in the yellowpages/category/keyword/page/adspot. Okay so it fits within your ROI so you do it. It’s almost manditory for a small business to be found by it’s customers. However, at the same time, all over the city there are these giant sky scrapers with all these blank billboards on them. They are giving them out for free all you got to do is claim them first before your competitors do and you can put up any ad for your business you want within reason(TOS). Also, in other portions of this fictional city are little chunks of land that you can grab and put up a giant sign with a big ass arrow pointing to your business. They may not be in the primo business districts but they at least get drive by traffic. I don’t know about you but I’m too ethical of a business owner to take advantage.

Ya know on second thought, I think I will jump in on this offer. So let’s look at a few examples of these billboards and opportunities for Keyword Real Estate and where to easily find them. They are everywhere.

A few examples might include:

keyword.Wordpress.comkeyword.blogspot.comkeyword.blogger.comdel.icio.us/keywordborntobuzz.com/keyworddigg.com/users/keywordtechnorati.com/profile/keywordbloglines.com/blog/keywordkeyword.typepad.comastore.amazon.com/keyword-20myspace.com/keywordsquidoo.com/keywordkeyword.spaces.live.comsomeforum.com/members/keyword.html <- em="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%;">

vbulletin with vbseo installed & your link in the signature.I know it’s simple and not very advanced advice, but it’s solid.  Look at what the experts are doing. A great example of how well this works is of course SEO Contests. How are they won? In the simple sense they are won by Keyword Real Estate. They are also a great resource for finding some awesome opportunities. After all it works damn well. I personally never enter a competitive niche without grabbing as much real estate as possible on that keyword or phrase and using it to boost my sites’ rankings and traffic. It’s common sense, all you got to do is follow through religiously.

 Nottawa Side Road East

Collingwood, ON

Dating Tips: Cheap Valentine’s Day Dates

Valentine’s day is looming and you might have some issues on what to do with your date. Fancy dates can make your wallet cry and dinner-date-and-a-movie are too common to make it work (unless you put some spin into it). So what are some date ideas that are cheap but wouldn’t make you look cheap (oh the cliche!). Here are a few ideas:

• Candlelight dinner at home - This wouldn’t cost you much. That is, if you have some mad cooking skills to boot. This may also sound passe but this works. Put on that apron. Whip up your specialty (Or if you can’t cook better buy some roast chicken, that’d work). Surprise her at the door with some flowers. Chill a good bottle of wine. Pop on some slow music for some dancing afterwards.
• Picnic by the lake (provided that you live somewhere where it isn’t icy cold during February) - Or some place clear enough to watch the sky. Your typical picnic gear. You can cuddle and wait for some cheesy falling star to pass by.
• Ice skating (for those who live where it’s chilly in February) - Put on those ice skates. Skate with your special friend. Get some hot cocoa after.
• Pizza and fajitas - Try a group date with couple friends. Get a movie or play some board games.

If you’re pretty suave yourself, then you could think of many other ways to go out on Valentine’s. Just remember, too many frills and you might just mess it up. Simple and sweet always works.

12 Things I Will Never Spend A Dime On

Here is a list of 12 random things (popular or not) that will never find a place on my shopping list.

1. Neon Lights Under the Car: Yeah, what?$199.95 for lighting up the underside of the car? Now, as frivolous as it may sound to me, I have seen more than a dozen cars in our small town with these lights. You seriously need to have an absolute dearth of ideas about where to waste your excess money in order to buy this stuff.

Sometime in the past, we were driving behind a Camaro that had some neon lights underneath it. My wife noticed it and asked me:

Why does that car have lights under it?

I still don’t have a good answer for that question, except “to show-off to people who care about lights under a car“.

2. Gillette Fusion Power: I wrote about this a long time ago, but it fits this list so let me mention it here. I haven’t understood why anyone needs an “onboard microchip” in a shaving razor. The razor body in itself is not very expensive (about $12 on Amazon), but the cartridges are a rip-off ($18 - listed as $29.99 on Amazon - for a pack of 8). It has some pretty useless features like this one:

Enhanced indicator Lubrastrip signals when it’s time to change the blade.

The time to change the blade is when it doesn’t shave properly - that shouldn’t need “enhanced indicator signals”.

3. Electric Toothbrush: I think people are going nuts in trying to make everything “electric” and automatic - either that, or we are forgetting how to do things manually - simple things like brushing our teeth. Here is some information on how to brush your teeth properly:

Generally, most dentists recommend a circular technique for brushing. This includes brushing only a small group of teeth at a time and gradually covering the entire mouth. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gum line, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. (source: How to Brush Teeth Properly)

Now, why does anyone require a $129 $119 electric toothbrush to do that? Is this 2-minute activity becoming so laborious for us?

4. Color Inkjet Printer: These things are .. well, horrible. In general, printers must be holding some kind of a record for being the least reliable of all electronic products. “PC load letter” must be the most hated term in the office world (remember those guys in the movie Office Space? - I seriously feel like giving that kind of treatment to many printers).

Regarding inkjet printers, if you use them too much, the replacement cartridges will cost you an arm (and a leg) and if don’t use them regularly, the ink is going to dry up in a while and you will eventually end up replacing the cartridges. It’s a loss-loss situation with these printers.

Also, in the last 4~5 years, I have probably “needed” color printouts for like 2 times (totaling about 10 pages). Heading over to Kinko’s works out pretty economical for such needs.

For printed photographs, now-a-days you can get them delivered to your home for about $0.11 to $0.15 each (regular 4″ x 6″ photos). You can useany of such numerous websites for that purpose.

5. iPhone: $499 (4 GB) and $599 (8 GB)? Give me a break - it’s supposed to be a phone. I don’t want the internet in my pocket, and I don’t want the talk to my friends while I am listening to Aerosmith, and I don’t want to type a boatload of text with my thumb. The only free time I have to indulge in activities like watch movies, surf the net, etc., is when I am at home - and have access to other time-wasting products (like a TV and a computer) to do those things, so I don’t see the utility of a $599 gadget for doing that.

Plus, from my personal experience, I won’t hesitate to say that AT&T sucks - big time. I must have spent 238536 hours of my life trying to get due credit on billing errors on our AT&T phone bills in the past. A 2-year contract with these people is just out of question.

I just need something that allows me talk with the person on the other end without any distractions (like dropped calls, horrible receptions, etc) and I don’t need $499 to pay for that. Come to think of it, you can get two Wii consoles in that kind of money!

In fact, with the availability of some good free phones (or phones with negative price), any cell phone deal that costs more than $10 ~$15 for the instrument seems like a bad deal to me.

6. GPS Navigation Unit: It’s not like I drive regularly in the tropical rain forest region or the Siberian wilderness - the places where I drive to are well documented on all paper maps and there are easy to read directions on roads all over the country (except in New Jersey). So yeah, I won’t be spending a few hundred dollars on this electronic doodad as long as $6 paper maps are doing the job.

Also, I have a theory (based on observing a few people) - those who have a hard time finding roads using maps also have a hard time using the GPS technology effectively. Technology cannot solve problems created by lack of attention, lack of planning, and general panic.

7. “Memory Foam” Mattresses: Take a look atthis price for a queen sized memory foam mattress. $5,799! are you kidding me? How can people get peaceful sleep after spending so much money on a mattress? (of course, there are cheaper ones available - I am just giving an example)Here is a typical sales pitch for such ridiculously expensive products:

By purchasing a memory foam mattress, you aren’t paying money for a mattress. You’re paying money for your health. You’re investing money into your better sleep and less back pain in the morning. So tell me, is it worth risking your health by purchasing a cheap crap in this case? Definitely not.

I love these sleazy marketing tactics: create buzzwords –> make up stories –> create unnecessary health concerns –> rope in suckers.

There must be a few genuine products in this memory foam business, but now-a-days, every Tom, Dick, and Harry is using that term “memory foam” and it’s becoming difficult to spot the good from the bad.

8. Regular Incandescent Bulbs: Done with those filament light bulbs already. Will never buy one in future. These bulbs are not very economical in the long run - neither for your wallet nor for the environment.

Plus, I am not a great fan of the yellow “soft white” light.

9. Cell Phone Signal Booster Stickers: The concept sounds like scam and probably is a scam. Read more about it here. If it were so easy, cell phones would have come with these stickers built-in.I have paid money for this stuff, and hence it must be working” type of mindset.

If you search Google for these things, you will come across a lot of “positive” reviews. Seems to me like the signal booster sticker interferes with psychology in certain instances - “

10. Radar Detectors: Fancy detectors ones can lighten your wallet by as much as $400+. How about driving within speed limits instead? that doesn’t cost a penny and it is completely stress free. If you think you will save a lot of time by driving fast, read thisand think again.

11. Services by Best Buy’s GeekSquad: Take a look at these prices and services. I am pretty sure these guys target some old people (or the absolutely ignorant) who hit the monitor when their computer slows down. Come on, $249 for installing Windows?

Operating System Upgrade
Professional installation of the latest version of Microsoft Windows that best suits your needs. Software not included.
In store: $129
In home: $249

A couple of hundred more bucks and you will be able to buy a brand new computer.

12. Two Way Pet Communication Device: This $199+ gadget is not a conventional item, but I found it pretty funny, so I included it in this list. Just read this list of “features”:

 Speak to Your Pet up to 12 Miles*

Collar & Harness available for Cats & Dogs

Control up to 14 Pets with one Radio

“Call Owner” Button

LED Lights with 2 Mile visibility

Lol.. things are out of control here. 

By the way, this whole SkyMall shop is full of such fancy stuff. Does anyone ever buy products from these people?

There are many other funny/interesting (and pretty much useless) things (for example) out there, but for now this is enough from my side. Feel free to share things on your must-not-buy list.

How to Accept Personal Differences

It’s hard to sort out individual differences because at the onset, differences naturally result in conflicts. But today’s setup requires you to be more flexible and accepting of other people regardless of background, culture, and history.

With regard to friendship, it is not just about what’s common between two people. More importantly, friendship is about accepting the person regardless of your differences. On top of these, you can say that friendship is about respecting each other’s beliefs, principles, and religions.

There is a need to adjust the superiority mindset and learn that respect is the most important value of all. Let go of the superiority complex because everyone has the right to choose their own set of ideas to believe in. If you feel like you have to be respected your convictions, you also have to respect other people’s differences from you.

You can’t force people to choose what you believe in, the same way that they can’t force you to believe what they believe in. There is a better way to put it. You shouldn’t force people to believe what you believe in, because they also don’t have the right to force you to adopt their beliefs. So stop insisting your own views.

It is important that every person upholds the value of respect towards each other. You can help propagate this by passing it on to your children. The best way to instill this to your child is for them to learn by example. Be the kind of person you want them to grow up to be. Don’t discriminate their playmates on grounds of race or religion.

Respecting other people’s differences will lessen the world’s conflicts. And that is something we must all strive for.

How to Deal with Hard Stool

Take a deep breath and try again. Stool still inside? Every now and then you suffer from constipation just like you do now. But the inconvenience of experiencing hard stool is sometimes more than you can take. Know how you can prevent yourself from being constipated.

Constipation implies a lot of things. It could mean you need more fiber in the food you eat, both soluble and insoluble. A healthy diet is of vital importance if you want to avoid constipation. A person’s daily recommended intake of fiber should be 25-35 grams per day. Increase your portions of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. And drink plenty of water.

People’s stools change from time to time, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something when it does happen to you. Know that your stool tends to be hard when your intake of milk is above average.

Constipation often calls for laxatives, but don’t over-indulge. Overuse of laxatives contributes to the hardening of your stool.

Move around a lot. People who lead sedentary lifestyles are more prone to constipation, as well as pregnant women. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and scleroderma are also related to having hard stool.

People who usually experience constipation are older folk. If constipation seems to be getting serious, it is wise to seek help from a doctor.

How to Open Stuck Jar Lids

Hard-to-open jar lids are quite common especially since most are sealed with partial vacuum. While this partial vacuum actually helps keep food fresh, it also makes jar lids stick like fat kid to a muffin. So how do you get them open? With a bit of know-how (science mostly), you can finally get to those goodies inside them.

Grip. Strength isn’t everything in jar lids. Even if you’ve got the arm strength of an Olympic athlete, if you can’t transfer the force effectively, then it can be useless. Make sure that you have a solid grip on the jar lid. You can get those toothed flexible rubber jar lid openers. They do a great job for gripping the often slippery lids. If you don’t have them, a pair of large rubber bands strapped around the lid can also help.

Twist. There is a bit of science to twisting. Use one hand to grip the lid and the other to grip the jar’s body. Twist the one grabbing the lid to the counterclockwise and the one holding the jar clockwise. The combined forces would help you open the jar with ease.

Heat. However, there are times that no matter what mechanical force you apply, you can’t quite get to open the darned jar. This is where heat comes in. Running some warm (not boiling) water around the lid of a cold jar can cause the lid to expand a bit.

Clean. To prevent the same from happening again, make sure that you clean the mouth of the jar and the inside of the lid clean of any food particles. Hardened food stuff can cause the jar to get stuck. If your jar lid gets stuck and this is the culprit. You can lightly tap around the lid to try to dislodge the stuff stuck between the lid grooves. Also, putting warm food inside a jar and sticking the jar in your fridge can cause partial vacuum.

Caveats. Don’t bother with jars with the middle part of the lid popping up. Chances are, the food inside is spoiled.

5 Slump-Busters to Jolt Your Sleepy Body

Oftentimes, we feel low in energy whether at work, or just at home. Here are a few quick energy zappers to help you:

Walk around. It’s a warm quiet afternoon and you’re stuck in your office cubicle. Your mind seems to wander and you feel ever so sleepy. Snap out of it by walking around the office for awhile. If you have something important to ask an officemate, don’t call, walk to their cubicle to energize yourself.

Choose your snacks wisely. During break time, stay away from the donuts, stick to high fiber foods such as fruits and protein foods such as lean chicken, or turkey.

Read the label. When you shop for your daily diet, learn to read the labels. This will help you in the long term. Check for hydrogenated oils and trans-fat and steer clear from them. They do not provide the fuel you need for your daily activities.

Learn how to listen to your body. Some people tend to oversleep when they should have woken up earlier. This ultimately dulls their day. They feel sluggish throughout. Some people start fresh by waking early for a quick jog. But you don’t necessarily have to force yourself if you’re not a morning person. A few stretching moves will do if you regularly do it for at least 30 minutes any time everyday.

And, of course, coffee is always a good idea. Before, coffee was labeled as bad, but nowadays coffee is getting good rep due to the antioxidants it contains and the stimulation it provides for your neurons. Drinking two cups of coffee not only keeps you from energy slump, it keeps you healthy.