No quarrel on vacation!
You have a whole summer for you, the blue sea and your Diane von Furstenberg bathing suit. You’re more than happy, you are enitrely excited. But your boyfriend has a different opinion! It’s too hot,he does not find anything, service is hateful … and there is only one step until you start arguing. How do you avoid it? Here’s how!
We know that you do not stand his jealousy crisis or his lack of involvement, but don’t you think it would be better to settle disputes than to argue with him?
We believe it would be better to use some simple tricks to calm your “baby” angry and still enjoy the quiet holiday.
No matter what do not give him the satisfaction of ruining your holiday! Be calm, relaxed and you’ll see that eventually things will work. Under no circumstances do not give up vacation just because of his nasty replies.
1. Be a good listener
Do not swear him and do not minimize his “problems”. If he is not satisfied with the service, listen to him carefully and take account of his views.
In addition, keep conversation to a medium tone and do not let yourself govern by impulsive reactions. If you can avoid a potential conflict, do it!
2. Short visits and frequent
He does not like museums or cafes, but you really want to visit? Keep visits short and do not speak, tell him that you will stay only 30 minutes and make sure that you will not exceed the time allotted. If you prefer, you can make separate vacation plans. If you go to the same place, you can choose different routes and whileyou visit an exhibition, he can see the stadium a soccer team!
3. Positive conversations
Do you solve anything if you say no every five minutes? We tell you … NO! The key is to use positive affirmations and to have a more relaxed attitude. Do not tell him “We do not go to the game because I want to see a movie”, tell him” Let’s go to an outdoor movie, I want you to hold me in your arms and have an evening just for us. We can go next week the match. Please.”
4. Giving him the main place
We know that men want to be always in the spotlight. So use this as often as you can! Explain why it’s so important for you to join you and why you can not do without it.
In this way you managed to have him always beside you and your boyfriend will be very happy to know that you grant them so much attention.
5. Plan B
If your lover does not support climate, is allergic to food or plants, or is dissatisfied with the service, you should review the situation and if it is to benefit both of you choose another option.
Than two weeks living nightmare … better return home.
Warning: You might want to avoid talking after you have consumed alcohol. Perhaps local wine will give you a headache and feel like arguing. Trust us … not the case!
How to say “I’m sorry” in a relationship?
You had a serious argument with your boyfriend and now you do not know how to say “I’m sorry” ? You could solve the problem even after you have ended the quarrel, but neither had the feel to do it. Now you are in an uncomfortable situation and not know what to say? Say “I’m sorry”! How? Like this:
After the nerves have calmed, emotions returned to normal and your mind began to calmly analyze the situation, you understand that you have not been right.You would give anything to turn back time and have that beautiful relationship that you just “shake it”. You want to say “I’m sorry”, but you have no slightest idea how you will do that.
Read what we said and how your actions can make mistakes forgiven!
1. Delay the discussion
Unlike ladies, men’s prefer not to discuss “the situation” immediately after the fight. They will not stop from work to examine the causes and effects. Most times they let things run themselves and will “keep” their feelings until they finally flare.
So if you try hard to convince him to talk, you may come across many reactions, but certainly “forgiveness” is not one of them. Leave him alone to find time to forgive.
2. 15 academic minutes
Let your lover to breathe after the fight. Even if you have understood that you were wrong and you hurt him, your will desire to be forgiven immediately.
Before you seriously argue with him, try to see if such a conflict can be avoided, because healing time is much longer than you might think.
3. Relax
If you continue to have a “hysterical” attitude, you will not save the situation. The more you are restless and anxious, the more you risk to aggravate the problem.
Relax and let things come by themselves, to be sure that healing is natural.
4. Please …
How many times your mother told you to ask nicely before you ask something? So try to follow the rule also in a relationship.
Explain that you were wrong and ask him to forgive you.
5. Spoil him, but not too much
Try to favor and to show him how much you love him. For a few days let it be “the baby” of the house, but watch not to become an authentic spoiled .
But before you ask forgiveness be sure that you were wrong and is really angry, and it’s not pretending just to take advantages from “crisis”.
Six ways to escape the routine
Children, bills, stress … only a few words that could describe a marriage! Or at least marriage as he is understood. Try to escape the routine and the monotony of a relationship using some new tricks successfully tested by us. Even if they seem insignificant, they will have an incredible impact!
Small details are the ones that give flavour to relationships! Do you remember that in the beginning you got drunk with his shirts scent’s or how you waited anxiously to see what flowers he will bring? How was your first date? But first holiday spent together?
Now you know why these small details mattered so much. Well, nothing prevents sparks from the beginning to be restored back to your relationship. You simply need a little help from us and some free time.
Here’s how to escape the routine which took possession of your relationship:
1. A mini vacation -The beauty of the weekend spent at mountain sites or in the European metropolis lies precisely in the short period in witch is unfold. Get rid of the reservations, baggage, nanny and everything. Get one weekend just for you! Drop 2 Dresses in the suitcase, get your lover by the hand and go!
2. An unannounced visit
For months you want to make a surprise to your lover, but you fail to find a free evening. What to do? Dress differently at the office and in the lunch break call him to drink a coffee. If your have one hour break, twenty-something minutes will remain when you can determine what to do tonight.
3. Your place
The bedroom is not your only sanctuary, you can use a guest room or basement! Make that place so he can play a little of your story.Use this place to be away from everyday problems and to enjoy a few moments together. No need to spend much time there, just to you remember how much you count for each other.
4. Naughty texts and promises
It’s not easy to be super-hot with some childs constantly walking around you and ask you to play with them. And it’s not easier when you’re at work and your colleagues always want something from you.
But even in these situations you can find a few minutes to send a clear message to your lover and promise him an exciting meeting.
5. Exercise together
Not many couples realize how important it is to spend hours in the gym together. You will be fit and happy at the same time.
Use every moment to enjoy your partner and to show that your relationship has changed, even if there are a few small problems.
6. News and happiness
Your relationship is not a fight, not a demonstration for your strength of conviction, but a representation of your happiness. So enjoy all you have and try to improve your relationship in any way.
Never say no before you try and don’t let your lover to think only your decisions matter.
It’s the only way you could escape the routine and enjoy your relationship.
Superstitious Beliefs on Certain Foods
Countless of superstitious beliefs associated with food can be heard and seen around the world. From bread to fish to dairy products to meat, almost every food has an attached tale of practices resulting from fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance. Many of these food and drink superstitions came about because of life ceremonies connected with such events as births and weddings, or because people established customs and status symbols around eating or abstaining from certain foods.
And while many of these peculiar food rituals are now being regarded as part of bygone civilizations, a few still persist up to these days. Thanks to modern-day people who have chosen to continuously patronize the supposed morsel of truth behind these bizarre customs, food and superstitions still go hand and hand in all corners of the globe.
Whether you believe them or not, here are some of the known connections between the food that we eat and the amazing beliefs that go with.
BREAD AND BAD LUCK
Breaking bread, for example, in someone’s hand supposedly brings bad luck. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to break — not cut — the first bread that comes out of the oven. It’s been said that it’s unlucky to cut it.
Another belief is that you should not leave a knife in an unsliced loaf of bread. If you do, you could be stabbing the source of your blessings. But bread may increase your chances for a long life if you follow the age-old practice of passing bread around your table at mealtime. When you break bread, or share bread, with strangers, you can expect, as superstitiously believed to establish friendships. Of course, there’s a practical purpose in this because if you share bread or eat together even with someone you barely know, you’ll like to earn friends or improve friendships.
SALT AS MAGIC MINERAL
Salt has been an important ingredient in many food preparations then and now. With that comes a collection of superstitious beliefs that have effectuated the common crystalline seasoning as some kind of a magical substance.
In some countries, salt plays a big role when it comes to transferring to a new house. But some people believe that scattering grains of salt on the windows of the house before the occupants formally live in it will protect them from evil spirits as well as bad fortune. This system of warding off evil may be somewhat related to the one Greeks and the Romans practiced during their times. These people offered to their goddesses salt to protect their newborn children, placing a pinch of salt on the baby’s tongue. People carried salt in their pockets to entice good fortune when business was conducted and during ceremonies surrounding events such as births and weddings.
Today, there are people who cling on to the belief that saltshaker should be full on New Year’s Day in order to ensure prosperity throughout the year.
FRUITS AND PEOPLE’S FORTUNES
Fruits are some of the most nutritious foods that have blessed men. They help heal wounds, deflect diseases and complement meals. But in many superstitious beliefs, fruits may also bring bad luck to an individual. Anyone who carelessly throws away a banana skin may suffer a painful death, some people believe. Needless to say, such belief carries a pinch of truth on it. You should always watch or be wary of where you throw a banana peel since you or someone else could slip on it and suffer a painful fall.
Not all fruits are the harbingers of unfortunate events though: To our Chinese brothers, whose New Year is based on a lunar calendar and begins with a new moon sometime between late January and February, the luckiest fruits are oranges and tangerines. The reason for this is because these fruits have a natural reddish-orange color, and red is a Chinese symbol of good luck.
EGGS AND OTHER MYTHS
For a long time, the egg wag looked upon as a symbol of the universe, endowed with magical powers that were put into effect in numerous superstitious practices and rituals, particularly fertility rites.
In Europe, the egg was thought to bring life to various crops. When it was time to sow grain, a farmer would take an egg into the field to ensure that the grain would sprout and grow well. Some farmers would throw eggshells onto the ground between rows of grain or vegetables, believing that this would help bring about a good yield in the process.
How to Grow Health Foods in Your Kitchen
With a simple container garden you can grow protein-rich and vitamin-packed salad vegetables on a kitchen shelf–or even inside a drawer. Forget about soil for this type of gardening. All you need is a clean waterproof container, water and seed. Then within a few days a teaspoon of seed develops the bulk of at least a cup of coleslaw, with enzymes and vitamins at their peak because it is still alive and growing.
Alfalfa makes even more bulk than most of the other seeds. A teaspoonful of dry seed produces about two cups of sprouts that look rather like very finely shredded lettuce, but the flavor has a hint of fresh young raw peas. Use it like lettuce in salads and sandwiches–or with mayonnaise as coleslaw. Grated carrot, chopped basil leaves, dill or parsley all give pleasant variations to its flavor.
Sprouted alfalfa also makes a pleasantly refreshing and satisfying snack when piled high on toast or rye wafers liberally spread with peanut butter. Or for a light, quick, sustaining dish, mix up to a cup of the sprouts with a few tablespoons of cooked rice plus chopped egg or cheese.
Sprouting salad alfalfa contains over 40 percent protein and is rich in a wide range of vitamins. It is claimed that a half cup of sprouted alfalfa contains as much vitamin C as six glasses of orange juice. Its vitamin B2 content builds up tremendously after the seeds have been sprouting for four days.
Mung beans or Chinese bean sprouts , my favorite, are comparatively well known because of their fairly wide use in Chinese dishes, but they are also excellent for salads, either mixed with or as a substitute for cabbage in coleslaw. Bean seeds are reputed to be completely sustaining, but their food value increases four or five times after they have been sprouted for three days.
Under moderately warm conditions they need to be eaten within five days after sprouting, otherwise they develop leaves and become stringy. However, they can be stored in a refrigerator after being boiled for a minute or two, drained and then sealed in a plastic bag.
Fenugreek, one of the lesser-known sprouting seeds, is becoming more popular because of its pleasant mild curry taste soon after sprouting. This disappears as the sprouts gain size, but they are still a welcome addition to salads or various cooked dishes and are reputed to be good for gastric disorders, including ulcers.
From dry fenugreek seed to edible sprouts takes only three to four days. Although the sprouts are larger than those of alfalfa they also make a palatable and attractive topping for biscuits or toast with peanut butter, – creamed cheese or other slightly savory spreads.
Lentils are one of the earliest recorded sources of food. Biblical history tells us that Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a porridge-like dish of lentils. Lentil soup apparently was well known for its sustaining powers, but lentils become still more nutritious and also more appetizing when sprouted. They can be pre-sprouted for soups, and when eaten raw they have a slightly sweet, pleasantly fresh nutty flavor.
Oriental red beans are also available in the “seeds for sprouting” range. These have been valued for centuries as a high source of protein in China, Korea and Japan. In some parts of the Orient it is still customary for people to carry a few of these beans in their pockets to be nibbled at when sustenance is needed, but they are far more palatable and nutritious after being sprouted for three to five days.
Mixed salad seed is available in progressive countries for sprouting. This contains all the seeds so far mentioned and gives a pleasant flavor combination with a good balance of nutrients. However, it is as well to try the various components separately, and then later you can make your own mixtures for sprouting according to your particular preference.
How to Prepare Savory Mince
Speaking of meat, why not bring smile into your cooking. Think of the appreciation you will get when you serve savory mince.
This good-tasting, economical savory mince is great for lunch, dinner or a snack. Serve it with vegetables or pile it on a hot toast. With the ingredients given here you can prepare enough savory mince for 4 to 6 persons.
You will need:
30 grams (l ounce) butter or substitute
1 onion
750 grams (1-1 /2 pounds) minced steak
Salt
Pepper
1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup water
1 beef-stock cube
3 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Procedure:
1. Choose a wide, shallow pan, such as a frying pan or a fry pan, for cooking, so that the meat will brown well. If you use a deep saucepan the meat will steam rather than brown and the meat dish will not have an appetizing color. Heat the butter in the pan; add the peeled and chopped onion and sauté the mixture until it is tender. Add the steak, the salt, the pepper and the mixed herbs.
2. Stir the meat constantly with a fork, turning it frequently until it is well browned. Mash it well with the fork to break any lumps up. Cook it over a fairly high heat, so that the meat will brown well. Pour any surplus fat off. Add the flour to the meat. Cook the mixture, stirring it well, for 3 minutes.
3. Gradually stir the water in, add the crumbled stock cube and the tomato sauce and stir the mixture until it boils and thickens. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir half of the parsley in. Sprinkle the remaining parsley on when you serve the meat dish.
Bon Appetit!
4 Myths about Meat
Attention Homemakers: Be wise when buying meat to prevent food-borne illness in your household and to get the most out of your hard-earned pesos. Here are the most common misconceptions about meats, and the facts behind the fiction.
Myth 1: The redder, the better.
Truth: When buying pork, it is safe to choose pinkish meat, not red. A rosy hue indicates that the meat has been chilled to keep bacteria from thriving, prevent meat spoilage and seal freshness in. Check for a few white parts (these are fat that melt when cooked), make sure that the meat is firm but not tough, and the fibers are fine-grained and not watery. One test for freshness is when meat remains tender even after it is cooked.
Myth 2: Cooking will eliminate bacteria in meats.
Truth: Some pathogenic microorganisms do not get neutralized by simply boiling the meat. Individuals suffer from food poisoning and experience diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting because disease-causing microorganisms remain in their food.
Myth 3: All meats are the same.
Truth: Some hogs are bred in unsanitary backyard pens and fed just about anything so their meat becomes fatty and tough.
Myth 4: All frozen or chilled meats are safe for consumption.
Truth: Not all chilled meats are safe. Bacteria may thrive in meat due to contamination from the environment and from improper meat handling and storage practices. So, check if the environment is sanitary and the employees follow proper hygienic procedures.
How to Grow Your Own Sprouts
Beans and peas sold for growing should not be used as sprouts or for cooking unless you are sure that they have not been treated with insecticides or fungicides, which is often the case when stocks are intended only for sowing.
Growing your own sprouts is very easy. There are several ways to go about it. With smaller seeds, such as alfalfa, the easiest method is to use a large jam jar covered with a piece of muslin or netting held in place with a rubber band.
Two teaspoons of alfalfa seed would just about fill a 750-ml jar with sprouts, but the same jar could take at least four teaspoons of mung beans. After adding the seeds, replace the muslin, nearly fill the jar with water, shake it vigorously, and then drain the water off.
Give the beans a second washing. Repeat the process each morning and night until the sprouts are ready for use, which may take three to seven days, depending on the type of seed and the temperature.
Sometimes a harvest of alfalfa seed contains up to about ten-percent hard seeds, which nature designed to germinate months later than the majority, so that the entire crop will not be wiped out by drought following a chance shower. However, these hard seeds are not a problem, for they normally gather in the lowest corner of the jar.
Another method of sprouting that works well with mung beans, lentils, etc., is to wash the seed by vigorously running water into a basin and pouring -it off several times, or by running water through the seed in a gravy strainer. Then soak the seed in water overnight. Rinse it again, and then spread it, half-covered with water, in a plastic ice-cream container or a tray. Seal the container with the airtight lid or by enclosing it in a plastic bag. Check after three or four days and harvest the sprouts when they are 3-4 cm long.
Before using the seed, squeeze off the seed coat that have not been removed by the washing. As germination begins the seed coat loosens or is cast off. It usually floats free, so it can be carefully poured off or lifted off after a final wash.
Mustard and cress also come into the category of quick-maturing sprouts or seedlings that can be raised in relatively small containers indoors or outside in the garden.
These seeds can be sprouted like the others already suggested, but usually it is the green foliage that is used, so they are sown in containers of soil. They need good light but not necessarily direct sunlight. In fact the plants are more succulent when grown in partly shaded positions.
You can enjoy your fresh home-grown cress with either grills or salads almost every day. Your cress garden consists of about a dozen seedling punnets kept on a large and mostly shaded window ledge. Four or five punnets are shown each fortnight to supply a continuity of cress.
Seeds of both mustard and cress take about ten days to come up, and in another week or two they are large enough to use. Just clip the plants off at soil level, harvesting as much as needed.
The seed is sown comparatively thickly, using about a teaspoonful for six punnets or a standard wooden seedling tray. Just press the seed into the damp surface soil and keep it moist. By enclosing several punnets in a plastic bag, you can speed germination up and avoid the need for frequent watering. However, keep them out of direct sunlight, for the temperature would be too high for good results.
Family Times
Growing up, I hardly see or spend time my father at home. He was always out working. He was a tricycle driver so he had to really work hard so that we could have food on our table. I wish we had more family times together during those times. And now it’s not possible anymore because he is already gone…
Wordless wednesday: Family Trip at Villa Escudero
