How to Renegotiate Your Mortgage

Wondering if there's any benefit to renegotiating your mortgage? Rob Carrick, Personal Finance Columnist for The Globe and Mail, interviews Robert McLister, Mortgage Planner and Editor of The Canadian Mortgage Trends blog, for tips on how to renegotiate a variable rate mortgage as well as the trickier fixed rate mortgage. 

3 Ways to Save and Still Enjoy Life

How would you like to cut down on your spending while still enjoying the good things in life? Though it may sound like an oxymoron, it is possible. How to Save Money Without Giving Up Too Much, as published on RealSimple.com, offers three helpful tips on how to live happily on less.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/saving/save-money-without-giving-up-too-much-00000000020243/index.html

Dishing Out the Holiday Spirit

'Tis the season to be clean! We're spreading Christmas cheer in just about every aspect of our lives, and this includes sink side with the method holiday dish soap and hand wash collection. Our favourtie, the candy cane pump dish soap, leaves our dishes with a sparkling shine thanks to the naturally derived. And with its festive fragrance, we can't help but get into a holiday mood while doing what is usually a dreary chore.

$3.99 at major grocery stores and pharmacies

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

Here's a ballad that's sweet and pretty. Originally written and recorded by the legendary Bob Dylan, we are loving the cover version by Brit songstress Adele.

Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Gals We Admire: Catherine Graham

Catherine Graham sounds like she's got a career that's poetry in motion. As a creative writing instructor, a writing mentor/coach and a poet (amongst other things), Graham says her work energizes her spirit.

Read more »

Worst passwords of 2011

Do you use "michael" or "abc123" as your password for online accounts? Better think about coming up with a new one!


Check out this video reporting on the worst passwords of 2011, as revealed by tech company SplashData, Inc.: 

Click here to see the complete list of this year's 25 worst passwords.

A Guide to Finding a Financial Planner

If you've put off getting yourself a financial planner simply because you don't know where to start, check out How to find a perfect financial planner. This step-by-step guide by MoneySense.ca staff offers great advice and includes links to useful websites to help you find the ideal planner for your financial needs.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

http://www.moneysense.ca/2010/10/04/how-to-find-a-perfect-financial-planner/

Face the Cold

Brrrr... baby, it's cold outside! We're using Weleda Cold Cream on our face and neck to protect our skin from the harsh elements of winter. The luscious, nutrient-rich balm is excellent on dry skin, leaving our face feeling smooth and moisturized even on the most blustery and windy of days. Awesome!

$16 USD (1.0 fluid oz / 30 mL) at usa.weleda.com

(Formerly called EVERON® Face Balm)

Love You Like A Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene

Okay, we admit it, we actually like the latest song from Justin Bieber's girlfriend. We even find ourselves hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat on our iPod just so we can hear Gomez sing it again.

Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Gals We Admire: Nancy Vonk

Nancy Vonk oversaw a large part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which has become a shining example of how advertising can shift the way society thinks. Get the scoop on what this advertising guru's day entails, and find out what she considers to be the biggest challenge in her industry.

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Sensitivity Training

Need a sensitivity training session in the workplace? Check out this scene from an episode of the ever-hilarious The Office for an example on how one should not be conducted.

5 Tips for Finding a New Job

Have you found yourself daydreaming lately about getting a new job? You might not be ready to leave your current post just yet, but should the right opportunity come along, you've told yourself you're open to the possibility. Check out How to Look for a Job When You Already Have One by Caroline Levchuck for five suggestions on how to put out the feelers.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

http://career-advice.monster.ca/job-hunt-strategy/getting-started/how-to-look-for-a-job-when-you-already-have-one-ca/article.aspx

Patriot Games

Winter is on its way, and during our chilly commuting days, we'll be keeping our hands nice and toasty with the 2011/2012 version of the Official Canadian Olympic Team Red Mittens. The 2010 version of these mittens were a hit for the 2010 Winter Olympics and have since become an iconic symbol of rooting for our athletes. And with three dollars from every pair sold going towards supporting Canadian Olympic Team athletes for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, we get a warm and fuzzy feeling all over inside.

$10 at thebay.com

Angel - Sarah McLachlan

Take a moment to remember those who fought for this country in the past to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Gals We Admire: Alka Graham

Alka Graham loves coming up with new brunch ideas that have an Indian twist to them.  And this certainly bodes well for customers of Frankly Eatery, the brunch spot in Toronto's trendy Leslieville that Graham is chef and co-owner of. 

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Conference Call Blunder

Here's a funny webisode made by staffing firm Robert Half International.

As their tagline says, "don't let this happen to you" in real life!

10 Unflattering Stereotypes About Powerful Women

Women of power. From top left: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama and the Queen. (Photo credit: The Daily Telegraph)

In From Ice Queen to Cheerleader: Ten terrible stereotypes about powerful women, Elizabeth Bromstein reports on a recent round-up done by Forbes magazine staff writer Jenna Gourdreau. Gourdreau polled some powerful women, including IMF chief Christine Lagarde and Jill Abramson of the New York Times to share their least favourite stereotypes about powerful women. 

The top three stereotypes on the list were that a powerful woman is tough, she's single and lonely, and above all, she's an Ice Queen.

To find out what other stereotypes made the list, click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

http://www.workopolis.com/advice/article/1396-from-ice-queen-to-cheerleader-ten-terrible-stereotypes-about-powerful-women

Sheer Decadence

After a long work day, this is one treat that will satisfy and make you forget your troubles. The President's Choice The Decadent Molten Chocolate Chip Cookie is just like their popular signature cookie except you heat this version so that the centre flows with chocolatey goodness. Pop it in the microwave or in the oven and you'll have a to-die-for dessert in mere moments. Yum!

We Found Love - Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

It's another hit for Rihanna. Enjoy the mellow beat of her newest track on this lovely Friday.

Have a great weekend, ladies, and see you on Monday!

Gals We Admire: Deborah Moskovitch

Deborah Moskovitch certainly has an interesting career. As a divorce consultant, Moskovitch has the task of supporting and advising people through a difficult time in their lives. And she believes her trademarked "SMART" method to dealing with divorce can also be applied to career gals looking to achieve their professional goals.

Read more »

Investment Tips from The Wealthy Barber

Here's a great video co-produced by The Globe and Mail and the Investor Education Fund where personal finance columnist Rob Carrick talks to David Chilton, author of the best-selling The Wealthy Barber. Chilton's book is arguably one of the most authoritative books on personal finances for Canadians. 

Get practical tips from Chilton for maximizing your investments:

Writing Your Will 101

It's not something we want to dwell on, but it's an issue that requires priority. Check out Five tips on creating your will by Caroline Cakebread to learn what to do in order to ensure your loved ones are protected.

Click here to read the entire article or copy and paste this link into your Web browser:

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/31049--five-tips-on-creating-your-will