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Test lorem ipsum lala Test lorem ipsum lala Test lorem ipsum lala Test lorem ipsum lala

Resources:

https://www.amazer.me/the-12-most-romantic-places-to-stay-in-the-world-for-couples/

Amazer.me

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You spend minutes, even hours trying to decide which type of tea is going to fill your cup, for that intimate moment between you and your brew. You wait craving near the pot and count the bubbles breaking the surface of the water. You are passionate about tea and we want to give you the chance to prove it and reward you for that!  

ENTER CONTEST

All you have to do is take a picture of the brew you are most proud of and invite your friends to like it (as I`m sure they do in real life). Not only you get the chance to win one of the two amazing Rivertea Gift Boxes, but also the appraisal of an entire tea loving community!

Think you can do better?

Rivertea`s Advice: Pay attention to details as we will also reward the most creative photo or just get as many votes as you can and win the popularity award.

Rules and Terms

1. The promoter is: SC Rivert Global SRL  whose registered office is in Romania.
2. Employees of SC Rivert Global SRL  or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via http://tab.fo/riverteacontest
5. Closing date for entry will be 09/24/2014. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
6. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
7. The rules of the competition and the prize for each winner are as follows: Participants must subscribe a photo to enter the competition via this app. They are then encouraged to share their photo so they can gather votes. The first two persons with the most votes will be contacted after the competition has ended to decide upon the selection of their prize. The 1st prize consists of a gift box, with three tea cans of 100 grams, three free samples and a surprize. The second prize consists of two teas of 100 g. Further information can be found at: http://tab.fo/riverteacontest
8. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
9. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
10. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
11. Winners will be chosen as a result of a vote conducted via this application as measured and recorded by Tabfoundry’s software.
12. The winner will be notified by email within 7 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.
13. The promoter will notify the winner when and where the prize can be collected.
14. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
16. The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by US law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of United States.
17. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current US data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
18. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
19. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Rivert Global and not to any other party. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the following Privacy Policy found at http://tab.fo/riverteacontest.

The post CONTEST: The art of brewing tea in one photo! appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

The post Here’s What Happens After You Place a Tea Order…Magic! appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

“Should I get a new haircut? I feel like I should change something, everything’s just too depressing.”

“Have you had your coffee yet?”

“Yes, I did, not working. I need to change something, this place is suffocating and my TO DO list is getting bigger with every hour that passes.”

“Have you considered getting some new decorations? Might work better than a new hairdo.”

Great plan, I thought, but I don’t want to waste too much money on items I may not need. Although I do want to change something and starting with my room’s décor does sound like a good idea.

So where do I start if my goal is to create an inspiring, energizing and cozy room?

1. Colors

It’s not a secret that wearing a certain color can affect our mood and can boost our productivity and energy levels, but this doesn’t apply only to clothing. The items we choose for decorating our rooms can have the same effect or even a greater impact, since we’re exposed to their colors several hours a day.

Each color is typically associated with certain feelings, so for a mood-enhancing décor, you should opt for brighter tones, and warmer colors.

Red is considered a powerful and energizing color, which can increase your productivity, but it’s also linked with anger, so painting your walls in full red might not be the best idea if you have a choleric temperament. Still, you can play with red shades and use this bold color to balance neutral tones, or opt for complementary color schemes and different intensities.

Orange is perhaps the happiest color, traditionally associated with energy and good mood. It’s a nice choice for a joyful décor, and works great for creative environments, as it gives a burst of positive energy. However, picking the boldest orange tone may not be the best idea, as too much of this color can become tiring and irritating for the eye. So try to stick with paler shades, and only use intense orange items to balance the lighter tones or cold colors.

Yellow is another good choice if you’re looking to create a cheerful and energizing décor for your room, but try to pick softer tones, as bold ones tend to be more tiring. Also, avoid neon yellow for the walls, but don’t be afraid to get creative with the lamps, pillows, picture frames or even your desk chair, as playing with colors and adding some variety can be stimulating for your eyes and brain at the same time.

Bright green can enhance your mood as well, as even if this color is generally considered a calming one, it’s powerful enough to revitalize your body. Bright green resembles fresh grass, so it’s refreshing and optimistic when placed in the right context. It may not be the most creative color, but it’s a nice touch for lifting your mood early in the morning.

2. Shapes and textures

Beside colors, shapes and textures can also influence your mood, as an interior design with no variety can be perceived as boring and visually tiring. However, if you opt for some small decorations with less common shapes, they won’t alter the overall appearance of your room, but will bring that extra something needed for making your days brighter.

Try to play with shapes that complement each other nicely, especially if you’re willing to paint the walls in a creative way, as your purpose is to create harmony, not chaos. If you’re not skilled enough for this, ask for a professional designer’s help.

As for textures, the more comfortable they are, the better you’ll feel when interacting with objects in your room. Pick only those materials that feel right whenever you touch them, and for the furniture, opt for pieces that offer enough support while maintaining a soft texture.

You may not see the link between your mood and the quality of the mattress right now, but if you’re sleeping on an uncomfortable couch, it’s very likely for your body to be aching in the morning, and this will surely affect your mood.

To sum it up: shapes and textures should be inviting but comfortable, and able to create an inviting and cozy interior design. This way you’ll actually feel like home when coming home after a tiring day at the office, and the negativity and stress will go away after relaxing in a visually appealing room, with nice patterns and colors.

3. Lights

Last, keep in mind that the lighting also plays a huge role in how you feel, as sunlight is known to enhance the mood. When planning your room’s décor, try to place the furniture in a way that will allow you to get as much natural light as possible, as this will keep you energized and will literally brighten your day.

As for your lamps, try to opt for lights in warmer colors, preferably yellow tones, and stay away from cold lights like blue or violet ones. These might be useful for calming your spirit, but aren’t the best ally when it comes to lifting your mood and energizing you. In fact, they might make you sleepier.

Once you’re done with the lighting, you can also play a bit with aromas and fragrances, as some smells are considered more stimulating and able to induce a positive state of mind. But if you’re not into such things, fresh air is more than enough for lifting your mood and refreshing your body, so if you live in an area where the level of pollution isn’t too high, let the morning freshness revitalize your spirit and boost your mood!

The post How to Create a Mood-Enhancing Room Decor appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

A gluten-free and lactose-free recipe that looks wonderful and tastes delicious probably takes a lot of time to prepare and requires expensive ingredients, right?

Not necessarily, as  even if you’ve recently switched to a gluten-free diet, or you’re thinking about adopting a lactose-free lifestyle, you can still create flavorful and affordable meals at home, and you don’t need to spend more than 30-45 minutes in the kitchen!

In fact, you can create complex gluten-free and dairy-free recipes with only a few ingredients, as adopting this way of eating doesn’t limit your options as much as you might be tempted to think.

Gluten-free means that you no longer eat grains and other products that contain gluten, but you can add some cereals to your menu (which we’ll list immediately), as not all of them contain gluten. To learn more about this tiny protein that’s so hated these days, check this article which explains who should or shouldn’t eat gluten.

Lactose-free means that you remove from your menu all dairy products containing lactose, which is not equivalent to going dairy-free. You can still have LF milk or products made from it, but you’re not allowed to drink whole milk, have buttermilk or eat cheese or other foods which aren’t labeled lactose-free. Yet, your main concern will remain dairy products.

Foods allowed in a GF and LF diet

If you decide going gluten-free, your list of grains will be reduced to: amaranth, corn, millet, flax, buckwheat, arrowroot, chickpeas, quinoa, rice and rice flour, bean flour, soy, teff, flour obtained from nuts and seeds, potato starch and flour, sorghum and tapioca.

As for your lactose-free list, it can include: any milk that’s LF, including soy milk, all veggies except for creamed or breaded packed ones, all fruits, pasta, rice, cereals without added milk solids, all meat, eggs, all nuts, lentils, peas and beans, all seeds, LF butter, tofu, vegetable oils and all the other products that aren’t made with milk or milk derivatives.

If we combine these two lists, we still have lots of alternatives, although the options do become fewer. So here are some recipes that are both gluten and lactose free, are delicious and nourishing and don’t take too much time to prepare.

6 gluten free and lactose free meal ideas

1. Chicken with mushroom cream sauce

Serves 4 people | Ready in 20-25 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot
• Tarragon, thyme, salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Heat two skillets over medium heat and coat them with olive oil.

2. Season the chicken as desired, add to the first skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side. When read, it should be browned.

3. In the second pan, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute to soften it, then add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Add salt and pepper to taste, turn the heat to medium-high and add the coconut milk. Cook for 2 minutes, then add thyme and tarragon, then add the arrowroot and cook until the sauce thickens.

4. Transfer the sauce over the chicken breasts and garnish with more herbs if desired. Enjoy!

2. Grilled orange chicken

Serves 2 people | Ready in 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method

1. Cut the meat into 1 ½ inch pieces. In a bowl, mix the honey and orange juice to obtain a sauce, then add the sesame seeds and mix to incorporate well.

2. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to combine. Let the meat marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, soak 4 wooden skewers in water and preheat the grill to medium-high. When the meat is ready, divide it onto the 4 skewers.

4. Brush the grill with oil if needed and place the meat, grilling for 4 minutes on each side or until done. Enjoy!

3. Creamed salmon and eggs

Serves 6 people | Ready in 35-40 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 6 ounces salmon fillet
• 1 tablespoon seasoning, as desired
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 tablespoons rice flour
• 1 cup veggie broth
• 1 cup peas
• 1 cup coconut milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Place the eggs in a saucepan, in a single layer, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Peel under cold water and cut into quarters.

2. Place the salmon in a saucepan with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer for 7 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. Remove from the heat and pat dry. Flake with a fork.

3. Add the olive in a skillet over medium heat, add the onions and brown them, then add the rice flour and stir to combine. Add the broth, seasoning and coconut milk and cook until the sauce thickens, for 2-3 minutes. Add the peas and cook for 1 minute more, then remove from heat.

4. Transfer the salmon and eggs into a bowl, add the mixture on top, mix to incorporate well and serve as it is.

4. Grilled veggie and quinoa dish

Serves 4 people | Ready in 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 ounces quinoa
• 2 red bell peppers
• 2 ears of corn
• 2 medium zucchini
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• Olive oil, salt and pepper

Method

1. In a large pot, add water and salt and bring to a boil. Add the quinoa and cook as per package directions, then drain the excess water and allow to cool.

2. Meanwhile, heat the grill at medium heat, add the veggies and grill until done. Place the peppers over the fire and turn frequently, until they’re charred, then place all veggies in a bowl and cover with a plate. Allow to steam for 10 minutes.

3. Rub the skin of the peppers, cut in half and remove the seeds, then cut them into smaller pieces.

4. Husk the corn, remove the strings and brush with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and grill for 2-3 minutes per side, until browned. Cut the corn kernels from the husks.

5. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, brush with olive oil and season, then grill for 3-4 minutes per side or until done. Cut into smaller pieces.

6. When all veggies are done, add them together with the cooked quinoa into a large bowl, add the tomatoes and additional salt and pepper if desired. Mix to incorporate well, sprinkle with basil leaves and serve.

*For a more fulfilling meal you can also add some avocado.

5. Coconut tilapia

Serves 4 people | Ready in 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound tilapia filets
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups coconut flakes
• ½ cup homemade mayonnaise
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Preheat the oven at medium-high heat and line two baking sheets with foil. Spray with GF, non-stick cooking spray.

2. Cut the filets in half lengthwise and crosswise. In a bowl, beat the egg with salt and add the coconut flakes. Dip the fish into the mixture, shake off the excess and place the filets onto the baking sheets.

3. Spray with additional cooking spray and bake until the fish is golden brown and firm, for about 15-20 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets if needed, to cook the fish thoroughly.

4. Transfer to serving plates and add homemade mayonnaise. Enjoy.

6. Roasted Sicilian potatoes

Serves 4 people | Ready in 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds potatoes, quartered
• 1 small onion
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup raisins
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup veggie broth
• 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
• Olives, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper as desired

Method

1. Preheat the oven to medium heat, and oil the bottom of a gratin dish.

2. In a bowl, add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, raisins, tomatoes and olives, season with salt and pepper and add the broth. Add the potatoes and stir to coat well.

3. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish and roast for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are slightly browned and fork tender. Enjoy as it is or with lean meat aside.

The post 6 Lactose Free & Gluten Free Recipes for Lunch/Dinner appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

Despite being obtained from the leaves of the same plant, true teas – meaning green, black, white, oolong and pu-erh – come not only with different colors but also with distinct flavors and health benefits.

The differences between these beverages made from Camellia sinensis are given by the conditions of cultivation, harvesting season and steps followed when processing the leaves. None of these factors can be influenced by the regular tea drinker, so at least theoretically, tea should have the same taste regardless of how it’s prepared, if it comes from the same harvest.

However, if you start experimenting and testing different types of tea, you’ll soon notice that there are, in fact, some factors that can be influenced by the person who prepares the beverage, and they all affect the taste of tea in a more or less significant manner.

In a previous article, I explained how each type of tea should be brewed and how the water’s temperature, the steeping time and the amount of loose leaves used for preparing the beverage influence the final taste. Also, in this article I gave you some additional information on how the plucking season affects the taste of tea.

It’s therefore time to talk about other methods of enhancing the tea’s taste, applicable for both commercial and homemade teas: flavoring and scenting.

Why and how is tea flavored?

The main reason for flavoring or scenting tea is to obtain different blends, styles and flavors, and to create distinctive, enhanced tastes for the classical types of tea. Some producers scent their teas by mixing the Camellia sinensis leaves with flower buds and petals, or by layering the tea and flower parts in order to allow the leaves to absorb the fragrances released by flowers.

Others prefer to flavor their tea blends with flower extracts and oils, this procedure being a bit simpler. Artificial flavors, which are obtained by altering naturally occurring compounds, can also be used for producing teas with more intense tastes, without affecting the quality of these beverages. To obtain new tea assortments, the flavoring agents are poured or sprayed over the dry Camellia sinensis leaves.

However, the flavoring process can be done at home as well, so if you’re one of those tea drinkers who like experimenting and would love to create your own tea blends, here’s how to prepare flavored tea at home.

How to create your own flavored tea blend

There aren’t too many rules when it comes to preparing home scented or flavored teas, but it’s good to keep in mind that some teas have milder fragrances, while others are naturally stronger and bolder, and these differences will influence the final blends.

Although some prefer using tea bags for preparing flavored teas, my advice is to opt for loose leaves, and get some fillable tea bags, as this way you’ll obtain a more qualitative beverage. If you’re using oils or extracts, start by laying the leaves on a clean surface, in a thin layer, and spray the flavor over them using a small spray bottle.

For a better taste, it’s recommended to lay the leaves on a glass or stainless steel surface and mix them using a spoon after spraying the oil, then allow the tea leaves to dry for 20 minutes. The amount of flavor used shouldn’t exceed 4% of the amount of tea leaves, which means 0.04 multiplied with the quantity of leaves.

Once the leaves have dried, transfer them into an airtight container and allow them to absorb the flavor for at least 24 hours and up to 5 days. Make sure to wear latex gloves if transferring the leaves with your hands, or a stainless steel spoon. Store the container in a dry and dark place.

A few extra tips:

• Avoid mixing broken with whole leaves and make sure the leaves have relatively uniform sizes.
• If you prefer using flowers, opt for jasmine, rose, osmanthus flowers or lotus flowers. For scenting the tea with petals, mix the flowers in the tea container and allow the leaves to absorb the fragrances overnight.
• You can also scent and flavor the tea leaves with mint leaves, citrus peel – ideal for black tea, with spices such as ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, fennel and clove, vanilla, nutmeg or anise.
• Black, oolong and green tea are the best choices for preparing homemade flavored tea, as their natural fragrances are more powerful. Remember that the purpose of flavoring your beverage is to enhance its natural taste, not to cover it.

If you’re ready to create your personalized tea blend, start with a base – such as green or black tea – and stick with only one or two flavors until you get used to the process and learn what works and what doesn’t.

To make sure you pick those flavors that will complement the tea’s natural taste, you can also take a look at our collection of flavored green, black, white, oolong or pu-erh tea blends, and check the ingredients in your favorite teas. This will make it easier for you to identify those fruits, flowers or spices that can be mixed with each type of tea, and to get more creative when personalizing your tea blends.

The post How to Make Scented and Flavored Teas at Home appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

Whether you’re a night owl or a morning person, you’ve probably experienced that drop in your energy levels in the afternoon. Although it’s considered a normal thing, the energy slump that occurs around 4 p.m. it’s definitely not desirable, especially when you still have a lot of work to do before going home.

To me at least, this happens quite often, regardless of how restful my night’s sleep is, how much coffee I drink or how many calories I eat for breakfast. The wave of sleepiness still hits by midafternoon, and when this happens, my quick fix is a cup of hot lemon or rooibos tea.

These tasty beverages have an incredible revitalizing effect and are excellent for keeping the energy flowing throughout the afternoon. Not to mention they come without the unnecessary sugar and calories of most energizing drinks and sweet snacks.

Thus, if you also find yourself yawning and experience energy lags late in the day, but need a quick solution to stay productive, I advise you to try adding a cup of herbal or fruit tea to your afternoon routine.

Unlike real teas, these don’t contain caffeine, and are available in a variety of enchanting flavors and aromas, so you’ll surely find some assortments to suit your taste.

Given below are 5 delicious fruit teas that can boost your energy levels after a tiring day, but you can always play with different flavors and fruits, and test various products until you find the one that satisfies your taste buds the best.

Refreshing fruit teas for tiring days

Fruit teas retain the benefits of the raw fruits they’re made of, and can make great replacements for regular sodas and fruit drinks, as they have no added sugars. Still, note that these beverages are different than real teas obtained from Camellia sinensis leaves. This is why you always see distinct categories for herbal and classical teas when you ask for a menu in a tea room or browse through an online tea shop.

Unlike classical teas – black, green, white, oolong and pu-erh, herbal teas are in fact infusions or decoctions obtained from dried fruits, fruit peel or oils, with or without additional flavors for an enhanced taste and visual appeal. So technically these beverages are not teas, unless they contain a real tea base (Camellia sinensis leaves) and are only flavored with fruits.

Ready to sip away and refresh your day? Try these 5 flavorful recipes!

1. Raspberries, vanilla and peaches infusion

The sweetness of peaches and the freshness of raspberries in this infusion curb the cravings for sweets, energizing you and relieving the afternoon mind fog. To make the beverage even more mouthwatering, you can also add some delicate vanilla extract, as this way you’ll get a richer taste.

Mix ¼ cup of raspberries with 1 chopped peach and 2 drops of vanilla extract, then pour boiling water over the ingredients and steep. Your body will be revitalized and your mood will be improved from the very first sip, so you’ll be able to focus better on your work assignments.

Still, if you’re at the office and can’t prepare this infusion from fresh ingredients, you can enjoy the same flavorful rainbow of fruits with the sweet and smooth Infinite Good Feeling tea. As its name suggest, this infusion of raspberries, vanilla, apples and papaya, with hibiscus, currants and pineapple bits will make you feel better instantly!

2. Mint, cinnamon and apple infusion

As simple as it may seem, this infusion is an excellent tonic, the sweetness of apples being nicely complemented by the refreshing taste of mint and the energizing cinnamon flavor. To prepare it, mix a sprig of mint with half a cup of chopped apples and 1 cinnamon stick. Bring the water to a boil, then pour it over the mixture and steep it for a few minutes. Served hot, this beverage is perfect for boosting your energy levels during a tiring winter afternoon.

3. Cherry, hibiscus and rose infusion

The unexpected combination of soft rose petals and hibiscus is a gift to your senses, but what really gives you the energy burst when sipping this infusion is the sweet cherries with their strong notes and overwhelming aroma.

To prepare the infusion you’ll need 2 teaspoons of dried hibiscus flowers, 2 teaspoons of rose hips and ¼ cup of cherry halves. Pour boiled water over this mixture, steep for a few minutes and enjoy this divine beverage. Or, if you want to experience an even more intense aroma, try this Cherry Passion fruit tea, with rose buds, cherries, hibiscus, pure apple bits and currants.

4. Pineapple, lemon and ginger infusion

This combination is so unusual that you have to try it at least once. To prepare the infusion you only need 1 slice of pineapple cut into smaller chunks, some fresh ginger shavings and the freshly squeezed juice from half a lemon. Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the ingredients, steeping the beverage for a couple of minutes, then serve it warm or at room temperature.

5. Orange, chocolate and berries infusion

A piece of chocolate can do wonders for your mood and energy levels when you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, but a healthier alternative is a cup of orange, chocolate and berries infusion, freshly prepared for an instant burst of energy.

Chop 3 slices of orange, mix them with ¼ cup of berries of your choice and add 1 teaspoon of chocolate chips. Just a few sips and the tiredness will surely go away, so you’ll be able to focus on your work tasks for a couple more hours.

If this infusion seems tempting enough, you might also like this Sweet Helen pear and chocolate fruit tea, this Chocolate Kisses Chili cocoa, currants and dates infusion or this Sweet Dream coconut and chocolate fruit tea.

These aromatic blends are not just fruity delights for tea lovers, but also great replacements for sugary snacks, so make sure to give them a try whenever you need a delicate but refreshing beverage!

The post 5 Revitalizing Afternoon Fruit Teas appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

I was listening to a radio show this morning and the topic was worrying, or better said, how to stop worrying and start living a happier and more relaxed life. Dale Carnegie wrote a book titled “How to stop worrying and start living”, and one of the most inspiring lines from his book says something like this: the best way to prepare for tomorrow is to focus with all your power and enthusiasm on today’s work.

So I’m asking you again: are you planning your weekend’s retreats or regrets?

We’ve become so critical and so demanding, and we’ve created standards that we believe everyone should meet, if they are going to interact with us. We’ve become accustomed to very rigid lifestyles and we’ve adopted so unhealthy thinking patterns that we easily get depressed, angry and defensive when something doesn’t turn out as we expect it to.

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”, right? Well not necessarily and if we stopped thinking this way, maybe we would enjoy our lives a bit more and wouldn’t try so hard to achieve things we don’t even need!

Like a snowball, so acts worrying

Not sure if you’re familiar with the Snowball effect. This concept describes a process that starts from something that’s barely significant but builds upon itself until it becomes very serious or even dangerous and threatening.

Look at the cute snowball below. Poor him, if only he could stop the snowball effect!

When we start planning, assuming and creating expectations, we actually prepare ourselves for deception and unhappiness. When we start worrying about things that could happen, we prepare ourselves for depression. And when we focus more on tomorrow’s probabilities and risks than on today’s opportunities, we prepare ourselves for failure.

Let me give you a quick example: two people are competing for the same job. One of them knows he has nothing to lose; he’s well aware of his strengths and weaknesses, prepares for the meeting as well as he can, and goes to the interview with a positive and relaxed attitude. The other one worries a lot about the interview, is terrified by the idea of failing and thinks that his entire life depends on that job. Despite being skilled and experienced enough for the position, this guy is very likely to fail because of his unhealthy attitude.

The snowball effect kicks in and our guy becomes overwhelmed by fear and worries: the otherwise normal restlessness turns into anxiety and paralyzes his thoughts. So instead of spending the day before the interview with a relaxed and productive state of mind, our guy allows for every second that passes to solidify his fear and to reduce his chances of success to zero.

Both these guys want and need the job, but the former knows that worrying and adopting a fearful attitude won’t help him, while the latter makes worrying his way of life.

Excessive worrying turns “I might fail” into “I will fail”

Worrying prepares you for failure. Then a vicious cycle starts and the more you worry, the less likely you are to achieve things and to be productive in what you do. You worry – you fail – you worry even more because you think there won’t be another opportunity for you.

Worrying for tomorrow adds no value to your today, but giving your best today can change tomorrow completely.

So does this mean I should stop planning and thinking about the future? Oh no, on the contrary, I advise you to do plans and to always keep your long-term goals in mind when starting a new project or rejecting a proposal. Planning your days is more likely to take you toward your goals than not planning anything and going with the flow.

Below is Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule. Looks very strict and … planned, right? And while it’s not necessarily related to worrying, it does teach us (at least) one valuable thing: have a resolution of the day, and start every morning with that resolution in mind.

Focus on today and on what you can do, rather than worrying about what you can’t influence, and whatever your 100% is, give it. You may not see results immediately, but today’s hard work will pay off eventually.

The post Are You Planning Retreats or Regrets? The Snowball Effect appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

Deciding to switch to a more active lifestyle and to incorporate more exercises into your daily schedule is surely a smart choice and can be the first step toward a slimmer and more defined body.

If you’re a beginner, you might feel unsure about what exercises you should or shouldn’t be doing for toning and strengthening your muscles. But you have to start somewhere, and creating personalized routines for the upper body, core area and lower body can be very helpful, as it will help you shape all the major muscles and build a lean and nicely proportionate body.

Also, having a list of exercises to perform on a daily basis can keep you motivated, and it’s easier to track your progress if you have a long-term plan of action.

We’ll therefore start with an upper body routine for beginners, the main purpose for now being to learn the movements and to be able to do these exercises with proper form. Once you’re able to do the exercises the right way, you can increase the resistance or add variations, for a more thorough workout.

What muscles will I be working?

The basic upper body workout will include one exercise for each of the major muscle groups in arms, chest, upper back and shoulders.

• Biceps – the muscles found at the front of your upper arm
• Triceps – situated at the back of your upper arm
• Forearm muscles – run from the wrist to elbow
• Deltoids – muscles that wrap around the top of your shoulders
• Rotators (rotator cuff) – beneath your shoulders
• Pectorals – muscles that run across your chest
• Trapezius – muscle that runs from the center of your back to the neck, across the shoulder blades
• Rhomboids – muscles situated in the center of the back, below the base of the neck

For better results, you will need a set of dumbbells or a resistance band. This first workout won’t take you more than 30-40 minutes, and you can repeat it 2 times a week if your muscles aren’t too sore after the first training session.

Basic exercises for the upper body

1. Biceps

Biceps curls – hold the dumbbells in front of the thighs, bend your elbows and bring the weights toward the shoulders. Slowly lower back, without relaxing the muscle.

Tips:

• Keep the elbow slightly in front of your ribs, anchored at your sides.
• You can replace dumbbells with a resistance band or barbell.

Alternatives: Preacher curls, overhead cable curls

2. Triceps

Triceps kickbacks – hold the dumbbell in your hand and bend over, until your trunk is at 45° or parallel to the floor. You can use an abdominal bench for this, or start in the lunge position and just bend forward. Keeping the back flat, bring the bent elbows to the torso level and extend the arm behind, squeezing the triceps.

Tips:

• Do the movements slowly, to feel the muscles contracting, and don’t relax them between reps.

Alternatives: triceps dips (ground or bench), overhead triceps extensions, lying triceps extensions

3. Forearm muscles

Wrist curls – sitting on a flat bench or on a chair, grab the dumbbell while keeping your feet flat, shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Lean forward and bring your forearms on top of your thighs, keeping palms up. Lower the dumbbell and curl back, keeping a tight grip and maintaining the contraction during the entire movement.

Alternatives for gym: wrist rollers, wrist circles

4. Pectorals

Bench press or floor press – lying on the floor or on a flat bench, grab the dumbbells and bring them next to your shoulders. Extend both arms so that the weights are being held above the chest, and then lower them. Palms should be facing forward.

Alternatives: pushups, butterfly (pec deck)5. Trapezius

Upright rows – start in the standing position, with the dumbbells in your hands, palms facing your thighs. Lift the weights toward your shoulders, keeping the arms next to your body while lifting, and the elbows always higher than the forearms. Lower the dumbbells and repeat.

Alternatives: dumbbell shrugs

6. Rhomboids

Shoulder blade squeeze – for this exercise you won’t need dumbbells. Start by standing or sitting, with your back straight and shoulders slightly pulled back. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, hold for a couple of seconds, then release and repeat. Keep the chin tucked in while doing this exercise.

Alternatives: resistance band pull backs

7. Delts

Delts raises – start in the standing position, with elbows slightly bent, in front of your ribs and anchored to your body. Raise the dumbbells in front of your body, to shoulder height, then lower the arms and raise again, this time bringing the weights laterally.

Alternatives: standing dumbbell press, bent over reverse fly

8. Rotators

Lying shoulder external rotations – to perform this movement, start by lying on a side, with legs separated. Grab the dumbbell and position your elbow against your side, keeping the forearm close to the abdomen. Lift the weight by rotating the shoulder, return and repeat. If you can’t perform this movement correctly with a dumbbell, use a resistance band at the beginning.

Tips:

• Maintain the elbow bent at 90°, in a fixed position, while performing the movement.

Alternatives: cable external and internal rotations

Most of these exercises are isolation movements, so you should be able to perform them correctly, but if you find it difficult to maintain proper form with dumbbells, start with resistance bands or without any weight, until you get used to the routine. To personalize your workout, try the alternative exercises suggested here as well, as you may like them better. If you opt for variations, make sure to incorporate at least one exercise for each of the mentioned muscles.

As your muscles get stronger, you can simply increase the weight, although a more efficient approach would be to add compound exercises, as these work more muscle groups at once, burning more calories. We’ll talk about these in a future article, when we’ll focus on intermediate upper body movements. Until then, go lift some weights and burn some calories!

The post Fitness Basics: Beginner Upper Body Exercises appeared first on Rivertea Blog.

“I need to fit into these jeans by Saturday, tell me what can I do to drop some pounds fast, and I mean really fast?”. Then she told me those jeans were 1/2 size smaller than her size. Mission impossible, apparently, but then I thought some lymphatic drainage massage and diuretic tea might help.

“So you’re saying that I can lose weight with diuretic tea?”, she asked me with an excited tone. No, that wasn’t exactly what I meant. Yes, diuretic tea can help you lose weight, but it’s not fat weight. It’s water weight, meaning that it simply helps your body to flush out the excess fluid, so if you need a quick fix, this may be an option to consider.

Tea’s diuretic effect is helpful especially in people with an altered lymphatic function, who tend to retain fluids and suffer from swollen and painful legs, puffy eyes or bloating and puffiness in the waist area.

A beverage which acts as a diuretic makes you urinate more often, and this means that your kidneys are a bit more active than usually and work more efficiently in removing waste products and toxins from the body, through urine. Diuretic beverages also help in lowering the blood pressure, so they’re helpful for people with hypertension, and they’re great for relieving puffiness and swelling of tissues.

However, when your body flushes out more fluids than usually, there’s a risk of dehydration, and this shouldn’t be neglected.

Does this mean that diuretic teas are dangerous?

Diuretics are not dangerous when used with caution, but they can be if used by people with hypotension. They’re efficient and recommended for those with edema, high cholesterol levels, with a weak immunity or under-active kidneys, as they stimulate the removal of toxins and cleanse the body from debris. Also, diuretic teas help in strengthening the immune system.

On the other hand, these beverages can caused dehydration, have a cooling effect, and can alter the body’s electrolyte balance. A beverage that caused dehydration will make you feel thirsty after drinking more cups, and this can lead to fatigue and low energy levels as a side effect. Still, not all teas have these effects.

Which teas act as diuretics?

Probably the most renowned diuretic tea is green tea, which supports the removal of excess fluids from the body, helping in weight management, in regulating the blood pressure and in cleansing the tissues from toxins. Responsible for the diuretic effect of green tea is its caffeine content, this beverage providing an average of 26 grams of caffeine per 6-oz. cup.

Black tea, at its turn, can also act as a diuretic, as it contains 42 to 72 mg of caffeine per cup. Although rarely referred to as diuretics, white tea and oolong tea can have this effect, as they contain caffeine just like black and green tea.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the diuretic effect doesn’t necessarily involve dehydration. Drinking 1 cup of tea won’t automatically make you thirsty or cause your body to eliminate excessive amounts of water. Studies have shown that in order for tea or other beverage to increase the urine output so as to cause dehydration, it’s necessary for one to consume 300 mg of caffeine or more.

This is equivalent to more than 4-5 cups of coffee per day, and over 10 cups of tea per day. Unless you exceed this amount, tea won’t cause you dehydration, but will support your kidneys in eliminating the unnecessary fluids from your body and will relieve the swelling and puffiness of tissues.

Moving to herbal teas: dandelion tea is often recommended as a natural diuretic and detox agent, as it helps in the removal of toxins, and is known to be efficient in treating urinary tract infections and cystitis.

Burdock tea, black cohosh tea, St. John’s wort, red clover and cornsilk tea, turmeric tea and gongfu tea are also natural diuretics. Juniper berries tea and ginger tea are also known to support the kidneys in flushing out the water excess, so they can be a good solution if you’re looking for a more exotic diuretic.

As a side note, foods that contain high amounts of magnesium and potassium can also act as natural diuretics, so if you’re struggling with excessive water retention you can either add some diuretic teas to your menu or incorporate more of these foods in your diet. Don’t forget to adjust the water intake as well, just to make sure you avoid dehydration.

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