Female Stratum

Food Expiration Dates and Shelf Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 03:56:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, a package of goodies from a relative in New Zealand arrived at our doorstep. It was sent August of last year and was expected to get here in the Philippines after a couple of months. Transit of cargoes were very late and went on very slow due to port congestion. That must be the reason why the package arrived at a later date than expected.

Our excitement about the package was quickly replaced by disappointment. Most of the goods- cookies, candies, chocolates, canned foods were past their expiration dates and shelf life. Off to the trash bin they went. Someone from our household was hesitant to throw them away. That brings me to the point of telling everyone (and post about it, too) about food and other perishables' expiration dates. Should we really dispose products past their expiration date? Is it safe to eat or use them for some time after?
First off, check the date. Be aware that different countries use different date formats. In the U.S.A. ,02/10/15 means February 10, 2015. Whereas the same date in Europe or UK would mean 2 October, 2015. Some food has two dates indicated on their labels. They can either be the date when they were manufactured and the expiration date.

Shelf life (as defined by The Free Dictionary) is the length of time a product may be stored without becoming unsuitable for use or consumption. Different types of food use different terminologies to indicate their shelf life.

'Use by' dates can usually be seen on food that gets spoiled easily, so don't eat or use it after this date. Ready - prepared salads, yogurt, packed maki rolls have 'use by' dates to indicate until when they are safe to be consumed.

'Best before' dates are more about quality. After this date, the food starts to lose its taste. Food may also change its texture. Canned foods usually use 'best before' dates to tell until when it is most ideal to consume the product. Canned foods are sterile hence, deemed free from bacterial contaminants. They may last for years without spoiling if their cans remain intact. Canned foods which are bulging present clear evidence of bacterial growth. They bulge because of the gas produced inside the can secondary to bacterial proliferation. Once canned food is bulging or leaking, its no longer fit for consumption, even if its not past it's 'best before' date.

Frozen foods also use 'best before' dates to indicate the peak time of consumption. Even if frozen, they won't retain their flavor and texture.
There are food products that would also put on their labels the maximum number of days the product would be good for consumption once opened. This date is just as important as the 'Best Before' date.

There are lots of terminologies to indicate a products best time to be consumed or until when they are at its peak of freshness and quality. 'Sell By', 'Best if Used By', and many other terms just to tell the date every wise consumer would look for. These 'dates' were determined by the products manufacturers who know the products by heart. These 'dates' are placed on each product to guide consumers of their safety and satisfaction.
Most of us, if not all, would look at the food closely then sniff it to gauge whether its spoiled or not. A better and more objective way of knowing that is by checking the label for these 'use by' or 'best before' dates and the 'consume after __ days once opened'. However, when these dates are not known anymore (let's say the original packaging is gone) and this food item has been sitting in the fridge for some time, as my Food Microbiology professor would say- "when in doubt, throw it".

Photo Credits:
Chicken Fruit Salad by ismaellozada
Tin Can by keerati
Shopping for Food by Ambro

Money Saving Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:36:00 +0000

When I started going to school, my mother taught me to budget my daily allowance and told me it would be nice if I would be able to save even a few coins from it. She gave me a coin

bank where to put these coins. When the school year ends in summer, my coin bank was heavy and full. We would empty the coin bank, then mom would ask me what would I like to do with the money I saved. Either we deposit them to my bank account or buy something which I like. If I chose to use it to buy something, still she would suggest not to spend all the money and set aside a few sums to leave inside my coin bank. Remembering this, I am grateful to my mom for teaching me how to spend wisely and the importance of saving. Up to this day that I am already working and a mother, too, I still have a coin bank.

When I chanced upon the 52-week money challenge on the net- the Kuripot Pinay version, I thought that this would be a different way of saving as this one has a weekly increment. This saving scheme may start at a base amount as low as PHP 5 to PHP 50, or depending on your desired amount. Add the same amount every week for 52 weeks. If you keep up with the saving scheme by religiously following the template (download from the Kuripot Pinay website), then, by the end of the 52nd week, you would be able to save quite a good sum of money.

Many opinionated netizens criticized this scheme and gave their own version of the money challenge. If one would take this challenge of saving, it doesn't matter what scheme or template to follow as long as you get to save. Saving can help us achieve different financial goals. Either for the purpose of raising money to buy that dream gadget (at least you get to buy it in cash and not as credit card debt) or just keep the money for future use, like investments, education, travel, emergency need... Having the money when you need them is better than lacking or not having them at all.

my money jar

I am taking the 52-week money challenge using the 20's increment, Kuripot Pinay version. Not because I am planning to buy something. I just like the idea of saving. Just like ants working and storing food during fine, sunny days. So they won't get hungry come stormy days.

Image Credits:

Red Ants by Sweet Crisis

Piggy Bank by renjit krishnan

Last Minute Christmas Decor Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:23:00 +0000

Christmas is indeed a joyous season awaited by Christians. As early as September, Christmas songs can be overheard on radios and music bars. Homes are decorated for the season as soon as Halloween is over. As for most homes in the Philippines, decorating for the holidays starts after the second day of November (after All Soul's Day). If there is this Christmas rush in shopping for gifts, there is also a rush in dressing up the homes for the holiday. If you do not have much time to decorate or just want to keep it simple and don't want to splurge on decors, here are some practical, quick and easy ways to spice up your home for the holidays.

Spruce up your window

Found on lushome.com

Bring out old Christmas balls, ribbons and arrange them haphazardly on a window. That's easy to do and easy to remove and clean up after the holidays.

Bring Christmas cheer to your walls

Found in madincrafts.blogspot.com

Put to use old boxes, gift wrappers and ribbons and make them "gift wall decor". Or if your wall have picture frames already hanging on it, wrap these frames then carefully hang them back.

Christmas twigs

Found on the frugalhomemaker.com

Dried twigs from the backyard can be an instant Christmas tree or ornament. Just be creative in putting them up in a beautiful vase. Other than Christmas balls, Yuletide symbols like bells, candy canes, tiny wreaths would look simply nice to hang on the twigs.

Yuletide centerpiece

Found on merrychristmas-2013.com

Thick white candles on a cake platter surrounded by berries is an elegant and easy to do Christmas centerpiece. It will shed Christmas warmth on your table and gives a more festive look.

We may fill our homes with decorations and ornaments to have that feeling of Christmas. What is more essential than that is the person or people who will be with us on that occasion. May we all be with the persons we love in this season of Yule.

Nativity by Jeff Weese

Budget-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 02:14:00 +0000

A few more weeks to go and here comes the season of love and gift giving. It's always best to plan ahead and think of thoughtful gifts that won't hurt your pocket. Make a list of persons you intend to give a gift. Allocate a budget as to how much would you be spending for these gifts. Check out gift items displayed in malls, bazars and even in online shops and take note of those that fit your budget.

Here are some gift ideas that may express thoughtfulness without ripping your purse.

1. Jam and Fruit Preserves

Bottled jams, jellies and fruit preserves abound in gift markets and bazars during this season. Fruit preserves like peaches, mandarin oranges make a good gift, too. They also come in varieties like organic and less sugar. Some stores offer these goodies already wrapped or their bottles decorated and ready to be given away. Don't forget to check the shelf life though. You do not want it unfit for consumption come Christmas time.

2. Personalized Stationery

Monogramed notepads, personalized notebooks, and gift cards would make an elegant gift to family and friends. I happen to find this online shop with stylish and customized paper products. Worth mentioning is how fairly priced their products are - Posh Themes.

3. Framed Vintage Images

Graphics Fairy has vintage photos and printable for free. Download and print on your computer a chosen image, then have it framed or buy a matching photo frame and voila, a one of a kind gift.

4. Organic Soap

Most people nowadays go after what is healthy and natural not only in food but also in personal care.

Organic soaps in different scents with beneficial effects would always be a sought-after gift especially by ladies. Most popular among these soaps are those which are hypoallergenic, with moisturizing, anti-aging and whitening properties.

5. Coin Bank

A coin bank as Christmas gift may seem childish (more so if the recipient is not a child). However, think of the deeper message this gift may convey. That is - to save. A lot of fancy coin banks can be found in gift shops- coin banks in the form of cake, house, etc. A simple, inexpensive gift that may also remind the importance of saving even the spare change. After all, its still hard-earned money.

Christmas is really a joyous season of love. We may use material things- pricey or not, to express our loving thoughts to persons that we care for. More significant than these tangible gifts is the sincere wish and prayer of happiness for these persons whom we care about.

Photo Credits:

Strawberries & Jam Bottle by hin255

Notebook & Clock by topstep07

Victorian Graphic by Graphics Fairy

Shea Butter by africa

Caring for your Child's Teeth

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:38:00 +0000

For kids, Halloween is a time for dressing up in scary costumes, amassing lots of sweets enough to last for a month. As for moms, this should be a time too for reinforcing that daily reminder of brushing the teeth. However, are we really on the right track on caring for our kids oral health? How soon should we care for our child's mouth?

Experts recommend that oral care should begin even before the eruption of the first tooth.
Babies' gums and tongue should be wiped with wet wash cloth or a soft gum brush after every feeding. When the babies began teething, soft and short bristled toothbrush suitable for infants with fluoride-free toothpaste may be used. The choice of a fluoride-free toothpaste is of importance for babies and toddlers due to their poor swallow reflex. Most toddlers too at this stage cannot gargle or completely rinse their mouth when brushing.
Fluoride containing toothpaste when ingested may cause dental fluorosis- a permanent discoloration of the tooth enamel. Our kids use a very small amount of toothpaste every time they brush. However, ingesting a little too much of this fluoride each day may accumulate and puts a child at risk for dental fluorosis, which may result to staining of the permanent teeth forming under the gums. When a child's permanent teeth have developed fully and starts to erupt, they can no longer develop fluorosis.
The age as to when a child should start using fluoride containing toothpaste really depends if the child has good control on the reflex to swallow and ability to rinse mouth adequately. Some children may have it as early as age 3 while it may come at a later age to some. Consulting a dentist would be best.
While we may have chosen the right toothpaste for our children, the time we give in supervising them while they brush, seeing to it that they are doing it the proper way is truly invaluable. Its something they can carry on till adulthood and may be passed on to their future children. Isn't that a very good reason to smile.

Photo Credits:
Kid Brushing Teeth by Photostock

Cancer Prevention Through Crucifers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 10:38:00 +0000

Cells

There are many things around us that put us at risk to cancer: tobacco use, certain infections, radiation, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, environmental pollutants. The cell is the fundamental structure of living organisms. Cancer per se before it can manifest and produce harm to the body begins as abnormally developing cells. Cancer is a complex disease characterized by out of control cell growth.
Most researches about cancer today are centered on its cure and prevention. One food group has been one of the focuses of these studies - the cruciferous vegetables, as they have been found rich in cancer preventing nutrients. Cruciferous vegetables are rich in several carotenoids ( beta carotene, lutein, xeaxanthin), vitamins C. E and K, folate, minerals and fiber. The cruciferous veggies are as follows:

arugula horseradish

Arugula

bok choy kale
broccoli radishes
brussels sprouts rutabaga
cabbage turnips
cauliflower watercress
collard greens wasabi

Aside from the nutritional content of these vegetables, they contain a
substance called glucosinolate that has been of particular interest to scientists because of its potential to fight against cancer. During the process of food preparation, chewing and digestion, glucosinolates are broken down into biologically active substances.
According to the National Cancer Institute, these breakdown products are believed to prevent cancer through the following ways:

Kale

protect cells from DNA damage
help inactivate carcinogens
have anti-viral & anti-bacterial effects
anti-inflammatory effects
induce cell death - normal cells grow, divide and die. Cancer is ultimately a result of cells that uncontrollably grow, divide, invade and do not die.

These veggies are readily available in supermarkets and can easily be incorporated in our daily meals as main vegetable course or as side dishes to meat or fish. When you eat cruciferous veggies and smell that pungent aroma and have that somewhat bitter taste, that's because of the glucosinolates...eat more for good health.

Photo Credits:
Cells by ddpavumba
Arugula by Suat Eman
Kale by Atsawantarangkul

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:54:00 +0000

Ask cookie lovers which cookie is their favorite and chocolate chip cookie surely if not on top, would always be on the list.
Here is a chocolate chip cookie recipe made healthier by using whole wheat flour. More people are getting aware of the health benefits that can be derived from eating whole wheat. Whole wheat is a good source of vitamins, minerals and soluble fibre. It can prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease and cellular free radical damage. A healthy grain as it is contained in every munch of chocolate chip cookie.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie

1/2 cup margarine

1/3 cup oil ( canola,vegetable or grape seed oil)

3/4 cup splenda

3/4 cup brown sugar

Cream the ingredients together on mixer at low speed.

In a separate bowl blend:

3/4 cup milk (healthier alternatives are soy or rice milk)

2 tsp.vanilla extract

Add this to the butter,oil and sugar mixture.

In a separate bowl mix together:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 1/4 cups oats (grind in food processor)

1 tsp .baking powder

1 tsp .baking soda

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time until incorporated.

Using a spatula fold in:

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 cup chocolate chips (add more if desired)

Refrigerate the cookie dough for 20 mins before baking.

Scoop a tablespoon of cookie dough and place on a greased(baking spray) cookie sheet or use silpat. Each scoop of cookie dough should be at least 2 inches apart from each other.

Bake for 350 degrees for about 10 - 15 mins.
This recipe makes 2 dozen cookies.

Recipe compiled from Lyn's Healthy Homestyle Cooking
Photo Credit:
Cookie Background by Paul

The Trends at Charles & Keith

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:03:00 +0000

The latest trend in ladies' shoes still range from flats to sky high heels. While being said as out moded by celebrity stylists, low and mid heeled shoes are still very much seen in stores and are patronized by most working women.
Here are the best buys and season's trends at Charles & Keith.

Colored Flats
Bright colored flats abound shoe stores since it is the dictum of this years summer/spring trend. Charles & Keith keep up with the trend but stick with cool pastel shades.
Luxe Play Ballerina Flats. A ballerina flat in cool shades of yellow, mint and beige with folded leather accent giving it a vibrant appeal. Great to wear with shorts, capri pants and skinny jeans.
Sweet Pastel Ballerina Flats . A fresh and laid back take on a ballerina flat in sweet shades of blue, pink and off white.
Joy Flair Ballerina Flats. A tri-colored flat shoes that can complement color block outfits.

Patterned Flats
Patterned flats give a more artful twist to the popular plain, colored flats. From floral, animal to geometric prints are this season's best buys.
Effortless Knot Geometric Print Flats
   Snake Skin Print Canvas Flats
  Spring Inspired Flats

Moccasins
Moccasins are back and now a fashion must have.
Two Toned Moccasins. A preppy complement to color blocking outfits.
Brightly Colored Moccasins. So comfortable to wear in adorable colors of mustard, red and navy.
  Faux Suede Moccasins

Low to Mid Heel Shoes
It is agonizing for a woman to be in a 5 inch heeled shoe while busy working. Low and mid heeled shoes are maybe out for the highly fashionable woman but functionality wise, it is still a must have for working women and college students to wear with their uniforms.
Patent Leather Kitten Heels. Classic pump to wear with school uniforms for young ladies in college. Roomy, decent and comfortable enough for the everyday hustle and bustle in the campus.
Cut Out Peep Toe Pumps. In neutral colors perfect to wear in the office. Glamorous yet conventional.
Two Tone Peep Toe Pumps. Stylish but still very suitable at the work place.

Platform Heels
Sky high heels are here to stay as a trend.
  Open Toe Platform Sandal. Strappy and sexy. A shoe that can draw attention.
Block Heeled Mary Janes. Block heels are returning to the fashion scene. This open toe platform heels have eye catching details of embossed and laser cut styling.
Patent Platform Pump. A closed pump with intricate details rendering more elegance and femininity.

Wedges
  Stripe Wedge Espadrille. Toe box is made of fabric with vertical stripes of green and blue or orange and blue.
  Strappy Wooden Wedge. A dainty wooden wedge with woven rope details.
  Sling Back Wedge. Casual and stylish. With braided leather detail and burnished wooden heel.
  Ankle Strap Platform Wedge. As always, ankle strapped sandals are noticeable and highlight the curves of the legs.

These styles and more are available in their Glorietta 3 and Greenbelt 5 ( Makati, Philippines) outlets.
What Charles & Keith missed are the color block wedges which abound in other shoe shops since color blocking is still in the fashion mainstream.

Image Credit:
Lady Window Shopping by Digitalart

Choosing the Best Lipstick Shade for a Prettier You

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Lipstick is a beauty artillery most women can't do without. Some women do not wear make up on their eyes and cheek but there has to be something to color their lips. A good lip color can brighten up the face and enhances the wearer's innate beauty.
According to make up experts, the ideal lip color is one or two shades darker than the natural color of your lips. That is an easy way of figuring out the lipstick shade that suits you best that can be accomplished by trying on testers.

A more systematic way of finding the most flattering lip color is based on your skin tone. According to the Fitzpatrick Scale, there are six major types of skin tones: light, fair, medium, olive, brown and black.
Here are the recommended lipstick shades based on skin tones.

Light and Fair Skin

Recommended shades:

Medium and Olive Skin
Recommended shades:

Brown and Black Skin

Lipstick in the right shade can really complement your beauty. Knowing these basic points can somehow ease out the confusion on deciding which shade will look best on you. All things considered, you should choose the lipstick shade that makes you look and feel beautiful.

Photo Credits:
Makeup by Salvatore Vuono
Beauty Portrait by Michal Marcol
Smiling Woman by Stuart Miles
Teenager by Imagerymajestic

Product Review: Skin 79 Super Plus VIP Gold BB Cream Long Term Use

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:12:00 +0000

BB creams, short for blemish balm or beauty balm created a stir in Asia for its ability to render a "no make up" look. Its popularity invades even the make up aficionados of Western market. I decided to join in the bandwagon and bought mine online.

Among the most popular BB cream is the Skin 79 Super Plus Beblesh Balm VIP Gold. I decided to give that brand a try after numerous search for BB cream facts online because based on the product details, it suits my skin and can give what it needs.

can brighten dull skin
sun protection (SPF 25)
nude make up look

I got the 20 gram tube pack since I just want to give it a try. I tend to have allergic reaction to substances new to me so I did a skin test prior to using it by applying a small patch of BB cream in the medial aspect of my forearm and leave it on for 24 hours. Since there was no undesirable reaction noted, I started using my Skin 79 Super Plus VIP Gold.

I have been using it everyday for 6 months now and that 20 gram tube still has more to last for a month or so. My skin is of combination type which tends to be oily on the T zone, morena, with minimal blemishes. I do not wear much make up even at work. I just use a pea sized amount of BB cream and blend it evenly on my face. That is enough to get the light, natural finish I desire. I wear BB cream alone, a hint of blush over my cheeks and lipstick as final touch.

I would say Skin 79 Super + VIP Gold evens out my complexion and can cover minor skin imperfections. It does not have any irritating effects on my skin. It does not feel heavy on my face. It can give the light, natural coverage I would like to have for my everyday look.

Skin 79 Super + VIP Gold holds a lot of promise in making skin healthy and beautiful.

it has caviar and gold extracts to make skin smooth
arbutin content helps whiten skin
adenosine for wrinkle improvement

With long term use, I noticed my skin becomes clearer. It has that healthy "glow" even when I do not have BB cream on. My skin becomes less prone to blemishes. The few, minute pimple scars I have become less noticeable. But its claim to whiten skin may not be true in my case. I still have the same complexion. But that's not among my concerns for using it anyway. As for it's ability to improve wrinkles, that I could not account for since I still do not have wrinkles on my face. Although there have been studies made that long term use of adenosine containing creams can really improve wrinkles.
[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489289]

Among the things I find Skin 79 Super Plus VIP Gold inadequate:

oil control lasts for 4 hours only in my case, so the need to blot before my face turns into an oil mine
coverage is not lasting that is why manufacturer recommends applying it 3 times at the most when you need to use it for a longer period of time
it cannot conceal major skin problems

We have different skin types thus different responses to products we use to nourish, enhance and beautify our skin. I find Skin 79 Super Plus VIP Gold beneficial to my skin and would recommend its use if a BB cream with light, natural-looking skin coverage with skin care properties is desired.

10 Ideas on Surprising Moms on Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

1. Surprise her when she wakes up with her favorite breakfast in bed.

2. Make your Mom a queen even for a day. Do not let her do any household chore.
Make Mother's Day special by doing everything she usually does for the family.

3. Give her a locket with a family photo inside.
Mauve Cottage has a vintage style collection of lockets and keepsake jewelry perfect as
unique gift for someone dear.

4. Make a scrapbook of her personal and family memorabilia.

5 .Give Mom a custom made photo book of her significant pictures
from childhood to her latest.

6. If Mom particularly likes Broadway musical, take her to see
"The Sound of Music" at Resorts World Manila.

7. Treat her in a day of pampering and relaxation at a nature themed spa.

8. Give her a gift card or gift cheque for her to shop and personally get what she wants.
Mom would surely have fun shopping if the gift cheque comes in a generous amount.

9. Plan a small family get together party on Mother's Day. Request each one
to present even a small gift for Mom. Kids may sing, recite a poem or give Mother's
Day card made by them.

10. Say "I love you Mom. Thank you for everything" - This should be done not
only on Mother's Day. Make everyday an opportunity for us to express our
gratitude and love for our Moms.

Photo Credits:
Lady on Bed Man Serving Breakfast by Ambro
Spa by Zirconicusso
Woman with Shopping Bags by Photostock
Mother & Daughter by Paihtoon

Salad Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:36:00 +0000

This is compiled from LYN'S HEALTHY HOME-STYLE COOKING.

Lyn's Salad Pizza is made healthy since she used wheat pastry flour. For toppings, instead of fatty pieces of sausages or ham, mixed salad greens along with other veggies gave it a healthy and delicious twist. This recipe is perfect for those who want to enjoy home cooked pizza made healthy with all the veggie toppings. This may also encourage kids to eat vegetables.

Thin Crust Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

by Lyn Diaz

3/4 cup lukewarm water

1 package of active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

Yeast Mixture

Combine water, yeast and sugar in a bowl. Let it stand for about 5 min. until the yeast has dissolved. You should see some bubbles and will smell yeasty.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

Flour Mixture

In separate bowl, combine, whole wheat pastry flour, all purpose flour and salt.

In a mixer, put the yeast mixture then with a dough hook attachment, mix it for about 1 min then add the flour mixture until the dough begins to come together ( form of a ball ). Turn the dough onto a lighly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball, put it in an oiled bowl and cover it with a cloth or kitchen towel. Set aside for about an hour in a warm, draft free place until it doubled in size.

After it has been rested, knead the dough again on a lightly floured surface and begin assembling your pizza. Make an oval, round or square as desired.

I like my pizza dough grilled and here's how I do it:

Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough. It doesn't have to be perfect round,oval or whatever shapes you want. Drizzle the flattened dough with olive oil. Place the dough on a hot grill. Keep an eye for it can burn fast. You will see some bubbles on the dough and that's what you want. Put a nice grill marks on each side of the dough and that should take about 1-2 min. After its grilled, now you can add your toppings.

Suggested toppings:
Melt part skim Mozzarella cheese on the oven at 350 degrees or on a broiler for 5 min. You can also add some grated Parmesan cheese. Spread it generously over the crust.
Put on mesclun salad mix greens, arugula, kalamata olives, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, marinated red onion slices (marinated on Italian dressing).

Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette on top of pizza.

*Makes about 6 small pizzas. This is a great dough recipe. If you don't want to grill the dough, putting it in the oven will work,too.

About the Author of the Recipe
Lyn studied Culinary Arts in Macomb Community College, Michigan
and now works as Restaurant Manager at Marriott Hotel, Somerset, New Jersey, U.S.A.

On Staying Fragrant All Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:38:00 +0000

A woman has always been metaphorically described as a flower... beautiful and fragrant. For most women, a wardrobe is not complete without the perfume. Wearing a perfume is essential to good grooming.

Some helpful tips to stay smelling fresh and fragrant all day:

1. Layer your scent. Start in your bath by using a fragrance bath or shower gel. After bath, massage a perfumed body lotion into the skin. Once finished dressing up, spritz the perfume as the final touch.

Some brands having a complete line of related fragrances or uniformly scented shower gel, body lotion and eau de toilette are Dolce & Gabana Light Blue, Lacoste Touch of Pink, Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden.

2. Hair can effectively absorb perfume. Spray your perfume onto your hairbrush before running it onto your hair. Your scent will linger on your hair and will leave anyone who comes near you in awe.

3. Dab or spray your perfume onto the pulse points which includes the neck, base of the throat, behind the ears, the wrists, and behind the elbow. Blood vessels are closest to the skin in these areas of the body giving off more heat thus working like a mini fragrance pump.

Skin type also has an effect on the scent a person wears. Fragrance may be more intense and lasts longer on oily skin. Whereas dry skin does not retain fragrance as long as the oilier skin type hence the need to re-apply perfume more often.

There is such thing as "scent circle" which is just about an arm's length from the body. Ideally, your fragrance should be within your "scent circle". If it goes beyond, then your perfume is too strong. Only those who step inside your "circle" should be aware of your scent.
There are so many different perfumes that it is hard to decide which is the right one for you. Choose the fragrance to wear depending on the occasion or your days' activity - parties, going to school, office, at the gym, or out on a date somewhere.

Perfume makes a woman utterly feminine. Her scent is an echo of her personality.

Photo Credits:
Perfume by Salvatore Vuono
Man & Woman Hugging by Photostock

Boost Concentration

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

If you are faced with a task that requires a sharp mind like for instance an important meeting or presentation, and lengthy examination, then indulge yourself in foods with high levels of concentration-boosting choline.
Choline is a water soluble essential nutrient that has similarity with B vitamin. It has the following beneficial actions in our body:

protects liver from accumulating fat
involved in brain functions like learning, memory and concentration
good muscle control

Choline can be produced in some amounts by the body but it is still recommended to obtain choline from the dietary sources to stay healthy.

Some choline rich foods:

beef
chicken
egg
cod fish
cauliflower
spinach
brown rice
peanut butter
almonds
milk

Despite the good benefits the body can get from choline, dietary recommendations deter people from eating some choline rich foods like eggs and meat. But eating these foods in moderation is better than totally avoiding them. A diet low in choline can lead to impaired growth in children, infertility and hypertension.

So before putting your mind to work, nurture it first - with steak and steamed cauliflower, or peanut butter sandwich, or a handful of almonds? Take your pick.

Photo Credits:
  Cauliflower by Free Digital Photos
    Stressed Girl by Louisa Stokes
  Beef Steak by Suat Eman

Anyone having "Chicken Skin" ?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:02:00 +0000

Keratosis pilaris resembles raw chicken skin

It's really uncomfortable to go wear something that shows some skin if it would result to exposure of those clusters of horny bumps that feels rough and spiky when touched as though "permanent goosebumps".
"Chicken skin" is termed medically as keratosis pilaris. It is a hereditary skin condition wherein the keratin, which is the outer layer of skin accumulates and blocks the hair follicles. As a result, many small horny bumps that resembles chicken skin or goosebumps appear on skin usually on the upper and outer parts of the arms, thighs and less commonly on the trunk and face.
It may also be itchy at times. It may be unsightly but it is a harmless skin condition and not infectious.
While there is no known cure for keratosis pilaris, there are instances that it resolves spontaneously after being there on the skin for quite sometime. But it recurs once dryness of the skin sets in again. Keeping skin moisturized can alleviate the symptoms.
Here are some tips to prevent skin dryness:

Use only mild soap.
Apply moisturizers ( lotion). It is best to apply lotion every after bath to replenish skin's lost moisture and for better absorption.

Keep in mind however, that scrubbing areas of keratosis pilaris is not recommended and can only worsen the condition. While some claim great improvement using lotion with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) due to it's mild exfoliating effect, it is still best to consult a dermatologist if the condition is really bothersome.

Photo credits:
Chicken Leg by Free Digital Photos
Hygiene Product by Photoexplorer