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Relaxing Spring Break

Right about now, all of your friends are excited about what they’ll be doing this Spring break. Maybe you have too much work to do or maybe you just don’t have the money to take a trip anywhere. Whatever the case, there are still plenty of relaxing and fun ways to spend your Spring break!

Catch up on your reading. I always hear people say, “Oh, I wish I had time to read that book.” Well, now’s your chance. While reading is a great way to increase your vocabulary and make you more articulate, it can also be very relaxing. It’s so easy to get lost in an author’s story and forget about your stresses and worries. Don’t worry about what others are reading; find a book that you know will be interesting to you. Whether it’s a trashy teen book or the latest novel from one of the great authors of our time, you won’t enjoy it unless you’re interested in it. Who knows, maybe you’ll strike up a new hobby and continue reading even after Spring break is over.

Go shopping. We love shopping but most working girls don’t have the

time for it. You probably find yourself complaining about how you never have anything to wear so stop complaining and start shopping. Since you probably don’t get to shop every week, make sure to look for pieces that will carry you into the various seasons. Trends are okay but stay away from trends that don’t work with your body. If you won’t have a chance to shop again for a while then you don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of garments that were trending last season but are taking the back seat next season. Choose timeless colors and pieces and look for quality fabrics like cotton and silk. If you’re on a budget then decide what your budget is before leaving the house and make sure not to go over your budget while you’re out in Fashionistaland. Also, make a list of must-have pieces that you’ve really been yearning for and try to buy those before shopping for miscellaneous garments.

Seek out the nearest body of water. I realize that not all of you live near a beach but being near water is known to be very relaxing. Visit a friend who has a pool, go to the lake, take a little trip to your local water park or even sit in your bath tub for a little while. Peering into the water or being doused in water can provide a very calming feeling. Similar to that of getting lost in your favorite book, when you look out into the water your imagination begins to stir and for a moment, you forget where you are. The whole point is to forget about the tough time you had a work last week or the college of your dreams’ acceptance letter you’ve been waiting for and concentrate on what you’re doing and feeling at that very moment. Try to clear your brain of serious thoughts and fill it with child-like thoughts.

Go to a fancy restaurant. Gather up your girl gang or ask your

tenderoni out on a date and make reservations to go to that uber fancy restaurant you’ve always passed by but never had the pleasure of eating at. Food is a necessity but you don’t always get to have this kind of food, this is the food you dream of while you’re on break and trying to make the most of that egg salad sandwich you seem to be eating every day of your life. You deserve a meal fit for a queen so head out with an appetite and don’t come back until your tummy is filled with a whole lot of delicious goodness.

Enjoy your Spring break, Tiniziners!!

Thanksgiving: Surviving The Feast

It’s hard to celebrate Thanksgiving without ending the day in a food coma. In our defense, there is just so much delicious food and we wouldn’t want to offend the chef by not trying some of everything, we’re just nice like that. Sometimes we even go so far as to eat very lightly on the days leading up to Turkey Day so that when the big day finally comes, we’re ready to go HAM. But what you may not realize is that your body is not used to the increase in caloric intake. Your stomach and digestive system are being overwhelmed with this delectable food that also happens to be high in fat, thus, a food coma is sure to ensue.

So you want to try everything on the menu without gaining a pound or fifteen? Well that saying, “everything in moderation” rings true with just about everything in life, including food. Portion control is really going to help you get through this epic feast without feeling like going into hibernation afterward. You’ll still get to try everything that your taste buds are yearning for, you’ll just be consuming smaller portions. By the end of the meal your goal is to feel satisfied not stuffed.

Feel free to go to second base with that turkey. Turkey breast is still filling but much healthier than the other parts of the bird. The most common complaint about turkey breast is that it’s dry but a nice low fat gravy, a few sprinkles of olive oil and lemon juice or a spoon of pan drippings will fix that right up.  Don’t get too crazy with those pan drippings though, they tend to be high in sodium. Remember to drink a cup of water before starting your meal in order to slightly curb your appetite.

Now that you have your turkey slice picked out, it’s time for the best part, sides. You cannot have Thanksgiving without the side dishes, no question about it. Let’s face it, what you really want to do is throw your face into that huge bowl of mashed potatoes but we both know a lady would never do such a thing. A tablespoon and a half will suffice, this way you’ll get a taste for the creamy potato goodness but you won’t get full off of one side dish; there are so many to try, after all! Just about every household does Thanksgiving differently but there is almost always at least one side dish that consists of some sort of vegetable (other than potatoes), that side dish my friend, is your safety dish. Depending on how drenched the veggies are with oil and flavored butter, veggie dishes are more or less a better choice than almost anything else on the Thanksgiving table. Feel free to try whatever side dish you like, just remember to serve light, think toddler portions!

So you’ve had your delicious Thanksgiving meal and now it’s time for some dessert. Every year on Thanksgiving Day, millions of Americans enjoy a mouthwatering slice of pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving is just not Thanksgiving without the pumpkin pie, but be careful, that pumpkin filling may seem harmless but it’s what’s lurking beneath that is headed straight for your thighs. Pie crust is notorious for being chalk full of saturated fat, which is all kinds of bad for you. But there is a trick to eating pie and leaving the dinner table without thunder thighs. Go ahead and take that slice of pie and make sure it’s a small one. Indulge in the pumpkin filling, it does contain a generous dose of sugar but it isn’t quite as harmful as that evil (yet delicious) crust. Don’t worry, you can still have about ¾ of the crust but stay away from the outer crust, it’s far thicker than the crust from under the pie therefore containing more bad fatty acids. Yes, I am fully aware that that’s the best part but saving the crust from under the pie for last will help you satisfy your craving for crust without eating the most unhealthy part.

When deciding what beverage to accompany your stunning Thanksgiving feast, water will never let you down. It will quench your thirst without making you feel bloated like sodas do. If you decide to go with a fruit juice, make sure it’s all natural and not from concentrate. After finishing your meal, chew on a piece of gum for a few minutes to help you digest your food but don’t chew for too long because that will cause further hunger. Whatever you do after your meal, you must resist the urge to take a nap. Gather up a couple of family members and go for a walk around your ‘hood so that the food will have an easier time settling.

The TiniTeam wishes you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We would like to thank you for taking the time to read our articles and being such wonderful fans!

Nuts For Nutella

An Italian sweet spread invented more than 50 years ago, Nutella has captured the hearts and pleased the taste buds of millions all over the world. The spread is a buttery consistency made up of half hazelnut and half chocolate. It’s sold in about 75 countries and increases in popularity every day. Young people across the planet are straight up addicted to the stuff and can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I’ve never been a fan of hazelnut but when I was spending time with family in Israel, it seemed to be the only thing people ate for breakfast. It was always just hanging out in the kitchen so I thought, what the heck, I’ll give it a try. It didn’t exactly win me over at first taste because the hazelnut flavor is pretty strong but after a week or so the creamy goodness began to grow on me. Although I don’t eat it every day now, I will confess that I have a new found love for it.

People love Nutella not only for its rich flavor but it’s actually a lot healthier for you than butter, cream cheese and most other sweet breakfast spreads. In contains all natural ingredients, it’s filled with healthy fat content and can even be used as frosting or as a filling in many baked goods. Keep in mind however that even though Nutella’s ingredients are all natural, doesn’t mean it’s low in fat. The chocolaty treat should be spread in moderation because at 200 calories per serving, that can really add up. Just make sure you follow the serving suggestions and try not to eat more than 2 tbsp a day.

If you haven’t tried Nutella yet, go pick some up at your local grocery store and let us know what you think!

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The Way to a Man’s Heart

Ask any man what the top 5 things he’s looking for in a woman are and one of them is bound to be, “a woman who can cook.” Most women who hear this, however, take the statement out of context. Just because your man likes you to cook doesn’t mean he wants you to set up shop in the kitchen and hang out there for the rest of your days. Cooking for someone is just another way to show them you care about them, like buying them flowers or giving them a hug. Understandably, not all women are trained in the art of cooking but the simple act of making the effort can really turn a guy on.

If you are one those gals who has a hard time finding her way around the kitchen, be aware that cooking is all about following directions. If you can follow directions, you can cook a nice meal. Among plenty of other things, the Internet can even help you become a better cook. There are an abundance of delicious recipes that can be found online, along with serving suggestions and detailed instructions. Cooking is also a great way for those young couples who are just starting out to save money. It will give you chance to bond over something with your special someone in a more private and intimate setting. You two can even talk about your favorite foods and ideas for future dishes.

Cooking for your partner will make them feel loved. It’s an ancient tradition that families and friends engage in to show each other they care. If you’ve ever received a batch of freshly baked cupcakes from a friend, you know how wonderful it feels and you’ll definitely want to share that feeling with your significant other.

Although not everyone actually enjoys cooking, it can become more enjoyable if you look at it as an opportunity to be creative and do something thoughtful for your partner. Guys should also be aware that no matter how many times your lady cooks for you, you should always be appreciative of it and say “thank you.” And ladies, if you’re not getting that appreciation then ask for it! Unfortunately after all these years, men still can’t read minds.

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Cheap Date

As women, we like to stay healthy and watch our figure. Even if we’re not really watching our figure, we like to pretend we are. When you go out to a restaurant you order special things that you like to eat, things that you may not be eating at home, that’s the whole point of going out to eat in the first place. But for some reason, going to a restaurant with friends can be very different from going out to a dinner date. I personally know a few women who don’t like to eat very much when they’re on a date either because they’re nervous or they want to appear lady-like. The truth is, there’s nothing lady-like about starving yourself and as far as being nervous goes, you have to get over that at some time or another, it’s just not attractive.

I interviewed a few different men on the subject to get a clearer idea on what they think about girls who order very small portions of food on dates. I wasn’t surprised to find that %100 of the guys I interviewed want their dates to actually eat a nice meal when they take their lady out to dinner. “What I don’t think girls realize is that we are already out with you. You got our attention looking exactly like you do! You don’t need to be thinner and I can guarantee that our thought process will not change about how we hope either this or any subsequent dates are going to go based on what you order off the menu,” one guy stated. Some women are on diets and guys acknowledge that but ordering a tiny salad come off as strange to the average male, “She doesn’t have to want to eat everything but order an entree, or at least a proper salad.”

I did also discover that they don’t want their date taking advantage of their wallet, “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want her to order 2 appetizers, soup, salad, a 20 oz. steak, shrimp and dessert. Just a nice decent meal.” Obviously no one wants to be taken advantage of but ordering too small of a meal can send your date the wrong message, “To me it would seem like she’s nervous or insecure about herself,” another man mentioned. As I’ve expressed in my previous articles, confidence is very attractive to the opposite sex, while insecurity is thought of as a total downer. It’s important to be yourself while you’re on a date; if you wouldn’t order a slice of tomato for dinner while you’re out with your friends then don’t do it on a date; looking at it through a man’s eyes, “Salads are for rabbits and other caged house pets.”

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