Healthy Habits: Introducing Your Family to BLUE Foods.

Healthy Habits: Introducing Your Family to BLUE Foods.

  

Blue foods are a great source of cancer preventing anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. The main phytonutrient, anthocyanidin, helps to decrease inflammation in the body's cells and may protect against heart disease. Blue foods also contain minerals including copper and iron, vitamins C, K, B-6, B-12, and fiber. Purple and black fruits and vegetables are also members of the blue food group.

 

Healthy blue fruit & vegetable choices include:

1. Blueberries: Considered one of nature's best "super foods", blueberries give your body and brain a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Be sure to include these delicious berries in your breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Blueberries freeze well and are great added to smoothies, baked goods and jams. (Food Guide: Blueberries)
2. Purple Potatoes: Purple potatoes provide carotenoids and flavonoids anti-oxidants, which can prevent cancer. Add color to your potato and vegetable dishes by using purple potatoes instead of white ones in recipes . (Food Guide: Potatoes)
3. Blackberries: A tasty way to add fiber and vitamin C to your diet, blackberries are delicious in salads, sauces and backed goods. Pick blackberries in season and freeze for an off-season treat.
4. Eggplant: Purple skinned eggplant adds fiber and flavor to meals. Cut eggplant in circles, brush olive oil, sprinkle with salt, then grill the circles. Grilled eggplant makes a nice side dish that is loaded with fiber and anti-oxidants.
5. Purple Cabbage: Purple cabbage supplies the body with fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. Toss shredded cabbage into green salads or make crunchy coleslaw for your summer picnic table.
6. Plums & Prunes: Plums and prunes (dried plums) are loaded with anti-oxidants and vitamins that help keep eyes, skin and organs healthy. Plums and prunes make a nutritious, low calorie snack on their own, or combine them with yogurt and cereal for a nutritious meal.

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Bless the English Language

We’ll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Then shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let ‘ s face it – English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren’t invented in England ..

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly,
boxing rings are square,
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing,
grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham?
Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables,
what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the folks

who grew up speaking English
should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play
and play at a recital?

We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.
We have noses that run and feet that smell.
We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
in which your house can burn up as it burns
down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out,
and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And, in closing, if Father is Pop,

how come Mother’s not Mop?

And if people from Poland are called Poles,

should people from Holland be Holes?

Test your Animal Idiom Knowledge - On the Lighter Side of Life

1. Wow! It’s raining cats and dogs today! I wish I’d brought my umbrella to school!
   a. I forgot my umbrella today.
   b. It’s raining heavily.
   c. Cats and dogs are falling from the sky. 
2. When I told my mom I would be home around 2 am, she had a cow!
   a. My mom bought a baby cow.
   b. My mom is really strange.
   c. My mom was really upset.
3. Jean: How did you know it was my birthday today?
   Susan: Oh, a little birdie told me!
   a. Jean told Susan it was her birthday.
   b. An unnamed person told Susan about Jean’s birthday.
   c. Susan told Jean it was her birthday.
4. Frank: Why didn’t your brother ride the roller coaster with us?
   Sam: Oh, he’s such a scaredy cat! He won’t get on any fast ride.
   a. Sam’s brother is afraid to ride the roller coaster.
   b. Sam’s brother is a cat.
   c. Sam’s brother didn’t go to the roller coaster.
5. When the telephone salesman told me I could buy some concert tickets for only $10.00 if I gave him my credit card number, it seemed a little fishy to me, so I hung up the phone.
   a. I thought the telephone salesman smelled like a fish and I didn’t like that.
   b. I thought the phone salesman was a dangerous fish and he scared me.
   c. I thought the phone salesman was dishonest and I felt suspicious of him.
6. I never learned how to use a computer, so I lost my job to a new employee. It’s a dog-eat-dog world.
   a. Only the strong or the best survive.
   b. Dogs are eating dogs at the office.
   c. Dogs like to eat dogs for lunch.

For answers click  here.

Summer Beauty Made Simple (Re-loaded)

It's Fashion Friday and I'm Starting out with a guest post  for Reflexions by Fierce.

She is a community blogger on Yahoo! Shine and a part of the Fashion and Beauty channel’s Shine Beauty Guru panel. Here is her Summer Beauty Tips for us, enjoy:

I’m soo thrilled to be guest blogging over here on Reflexions today and I just can’t help but talk about my first love – beauty!

Though the summer is my favorite time of the year, it’s also the hottest time, which means there’s more room for the elements to wreck havoc on your beauty routine! We all want to look good as we sit pool side or attend those outdoor summer parties so the crazy temps should stop us right? So here are some quick and easy beauty tips to make sure that you look good while you have fun this summer!

Give your skin some extra pampering!

Because makeup will be at a minimum, it’s important to make sure your gorgeous skin shines through! It’s a great time to treat yourself to a facial or two to give your face a good exfoliation as well as replenish it with the essential vitamins that keep your skin looking fresh! A great one to try is the Triple Oxygen Facial at Bliss Spa. If a facial isn’t in your budget, there are great at home products you can use. My favorites are the Triple Oxygen Energizing mask from Bliss Spa and the Mary Kay Microderm Abrasion Set.

Tinted Moisturiser is the Way to Go!

Foundation is way too heavy for these summer months (who would want to have your make-up to melt off?!) So your best option to keep your skin moisturised while giving you sheer coverage is using a tinted moisturiser. There are great brands to choose with different price points to fit your budget. I just ran out of my Mary Kay and until I find the Covergirl one that I really want, I’ve just been mixing a little bit of my foundation into my daily moisturizer, which works just as well!

Let your lips have all the fun!

As much as I love my eyeshadow, it pains me to go through all the time applying it, just to have it sweat off as soon as I step outside! So I’ve been giving them a break and experimenting with bold lip color instead! Not only is it a hot trend this season, it’s much easier to add a pop of color to your beauty look and reapply when you need to!

You can go for a soft, natural gloss, like this one from Avon in Constant Coral or get bold with Covergirl LipPerfection in Tempted.

What are your tips and tricks for looking great this summer?

For more on what beauty products I’m using this summer, check me out on my blog Fierce!

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Toddler Treat: Omelettes aux fines herbes (Omelet with fresh herbs)

The French omelet has been a culinary delight since the 16th century.  This high protein egg dish makes an energizing meal for on the go toddlers. Our recipe is for a 1 egg omelet - the perfect size for a small child.

 Ingredients: 

• 1 large Egg
• 1 tsp. Butter
• ½-1 tsp. Fresh chives, chopped
• Dash of Salt
• 1 Tbsp. Gruyére or Swiss cheese, shredded

Directions:

Crack the egg large into a small bowl and add the chives and salt. Using a fork beat the egg mixture well. In a 6-inch non-stick pan, over medium heat, melt butter. Swirl the butter in the pan to coat the bottom. Add the egg mixture. With your fork, stir the eggs quickly to form small curds.

When the egg mixture begins to set (after about 1-2 minutes) press gently on the egg with the fork or a flat rubber spatula to flatten it. Angle the pan downward, and using the fork or flat rubber spatula, fold the top part of the omelet inward. Sprinkle the cheese across the center. Fold in the bottom part inward. Cook for 30 more seconds and slide it on a plate.

 

Serve with toast and fresh fruit

My Apartment's Very Clean Without You (Musical Monday)

Top Ten Benefits of Banana

  
Source: Interesting facts

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

What does an overworked mouse look like?

How dependent are we of our computers:

Alternate meanings for common words - On the Lighter Side of Life

1. Coffee, n. The person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted, adj. Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.

3. Abdicate, v. To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade, v. To attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Negligent, adj. Absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.

6. Lymph, v. To walk with a lisp.

7. Gargoyle, n. Olive-flavored mouthwash.

8. Flatulence, n. Emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.

9. Balderdash, n. A rapidly receding hairline.

10. Testicle, n. A humorous question on an exam.

11. Rectitude, n. The formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

12. Pokemon, n. A Rastafarian proctologist.

13. Oyster, n. A person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

14. Frisbeetarianism, n. The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

15. Circumvent, n. An opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

French Summer Family Meal

French Summer Family Meal

  

Menu

Nicoise Salad

Crusty French Bread

  

Nicoise Salad

Julia Child made the Nicoise Salad famous on her TV cooking show, "The French Chef". This salad has wonderful refreshing flavors and is a perfect summertime one-dish meal! 

Ingredients (serve 4-6):

• 1 head of Boston lettuce
• 2 cups cooked French-style green beans
• 2 cups of cooked Potatoes, diced
• 1 medium Tomato, diced
• 2 Hard-cooked Eggs, quartered
• 1 cup of drained and flaked Canned Tuna
• Fresh Chives, chopped (optional garnish)
• Classic French Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Directions:  

Wash and dry the lettuce, tear into small pieces and put in a salad bowl. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of the French Vinaigrette over the top and toss gently. This salad looks best when plated individually for each person.

To plate the salad: Place ½ -1 cup of salad greens on a dinner plate. Arrange the green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, tuna and eggs on the plate. Spoon the French Vinaigrette over the top and sprinkle with fresh chopped chives. Serve with French Bread.

Classic French Vinaigrette

  

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar or lemon juice
• ½ tsp. Dijon mustard
• ¾ cup olive oil

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid (or plastic container). Shake well. This dressing keeps fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Introduction to French Cooking

 

The French have a way with food, there's no doubt. French chefs plan menus based on the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Cooking with seasonal foods means you are using the freshest ingredients available and you'll taste more of the natural goodness of the food and get the most nutritional value too.

Typical French summer menus include a great variety of fresh produce - greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, green beans, peaches, pears, berries and plums, plus whole grains and protein. Shop your local farm markets and create your meals around what is in season in your area.

Styles of cooking in France range from elaborate and time-consuming recipes to fresh, easy-to-prepare dishes. The Nouvelle Cuisine style of French cooking emphasizes fresh ingredients and simple recipes using seasonings that include fresh herbs, lemon juice, vinegars and butter. This style of cuisine is perfect for family-friendly summer dining.

Food presentation is important in French cooking. In fact it's practically an art form. Food is plated with great care and you will often see a sprig of fresh herbs, thinly sliced fruit or edible flowers added to plates giving them a splash of color an added touch of culinary artistry.

Evian Roller Babies - On The Lighter Side Of Life

If you want some giggles for the day, you need to watch this video. These babies are absolutely cool. I know that there is a lot of computer manipulation in there but we need things like this to ease off. Just sit back, relax and watch the video (it's a short advert, just 1:01mins). 

Now if watched the video, you really have to watch the hilarious interview. Check out how the babies were interviewed about the role they played. 
I just LMHO!!!

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Maxi or Mini Skirts

One is long and gorgeous, the other is short and smart but I'm always a fan of both. I love skirts, I feel more feminine when I wear them because my everyday life and work calls for pant-suits  and jeans (when I want to dress down).

I like maxi-skirts for the elegance that it adds to my walk - I walk like a queen. Lol

I like rocking my mini/knee-length skirts because they allow my legs to breath (especially in the summer months) and look extra .........

So say your mind. Which look do you prefer and which skirt do you like better. SHORT OR LONG???