Ingredients:
12 oz mixed dried fruit of your choice (dates, apricots, raisins etc)
4 oz nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts or Brazil nuts)
4 oz desiccated coconut
Grated rind of 1 orange or lemon
A little orange juice
Extra desiccated coconut for coating
Method:
Process dried fruit mixture and nuts in a food processor until finely chopped.
Add coconut and grated rind of orange or lemon and process again, adding the orange juice to make a firm paste.
Sprinkle desiccated coconut in an 8inch square cake tin, press the fruit mixture into the tin and finish off with some more coconut. Press down well!
Put a weight on top of the cake tin and chill in the fridge. When chilled and firm slice into 1inch squares and enjoy!
Motherhood, Lifestyle,Motivation, Natural Hair, Beauty and Fashion
Monday 29 June 2009
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Romantic Weekend Getaways
Some of the most romantic weekend getaways exist in the most populated destinations in the US. Here are a few to consider.
I’ll Take Manhattan. You can spend a fabulous weekend in New York City and stay either at the Marriott Hotel on Broadway, for example, which is right near the Theatre District; or you can book a weekend at the Plaza Hotel overlooking Central Park. Perhaps you would like to stay at the Mandarin Hotel and Spa where you can both be pampered for the weekend. No matter what your budget is; Manhattan is more than accommodating.
Needless to say, Manhattan is considered one of the most romantic spots in the U.S. Whether you enjoy dinner in your hotel suite or dine at any one of the five star restaurants, the night is always young for lovers who seek solitude in a city that hosts millions of tourists each year. Whether you take a carriage ride through Central Park, enjoy an opera or symphonic performance at Lincoln Center, or walk along Fifth Avenue during the evening hours; the city offers something for everyone.
San Francisco. With its rolling hills, fantastic cuisine, and friendly people; San Francisco offers hotel stays that are sure to enhance your romantic side. Among the most notable hotels are the Fairmont hotel, located in the Nob Hill area; the Mandarin Oriental, which is known for its best views of the Bay and the city; or the downtown W San Francisco hotel that is close to cable cars, shopping, restaurants, and theatres.
Stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf and stop by Ghirardelli Square where you can pick up some of their famous chocolate before having dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants there such as McCormick and Kuleto’s, where the panoramic view of the Bay, as well as Alcatraz island; both of which are a stunning backdrop. You may also wish to stop by O’Neill’s Irish Pub for an after-dinner drink. You may leave your heart here after departing this great city by the Bay.
Las Vegas. Time will stand still at this resort destination. With a myriad of hotels to choose from you can enjoy your time here without having to worry about time, because there are no clocks in the casinos.
With great weather year round (hot, but always dry), you can wile away the early morning hours at the hotel’s pool and enjoy the evening attending a fabulous show or visit lady luck at the casino.
Whether you take a stay at the Venetian Hotel and enjoy a romantic ride on a gondola; enjoy the Spa and Salon at the Hotel Bellagio; or marvel at the lush indoor gardens, aquarium, and the Secret Garden at the Mirage; Las Vegas is both affordable for any budget and is the perfect weekend romantic getaway.
Lake Placid. Far away from the maddening crowd, you will find comfort and romance at the Mirror Lake Inn. With gorgeous mountain and lake views, fireplace, and very large tubs, you will find the accommodations more than satisfactory. In fact, they are quite conducive to a romantic weekend.
Among the many things you might like to do is to take a walk to the neighboring town of Lake Placid, only two miles away. Here you will find shops along Main Street and you can stop at the Cottage for lunch. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are some of the activities available at Mirror Lake Inn.
The calm and quiet ambience of this Inn is the perfect weekend getaway destination for couples.
I’ll Take Manhattan. You can spend a fabulous weekend in New York City and stay either at the Marriott Hotel on Broadway, for example, which is right near the Theatre District; or you can book a weekend at the Plaza Hotel overlooking Central Park. Perhaps you would like to stay at the Mandarin Hotel and Spa where you can both be pampered for the weekend. No matter what your budget is; Manhattan is more than accommodating.
Needless to say, Manhattan is considered one of the most romantic spots in the U.S. Whether you enjoy dinner in your hotel suite or dine at any one of the five star restaurants, the night is always young for lovers who seek solitude in a city that hosts millions of tourists each year. Whether you take a carriage ride through Central Park, enjoy an opera or symphonic performance at Lincoln Center, or walk along Fifth Avenue during the evening hours; the city offers something for everyone.
San Francisco. With its rolling hills, fantastic cuisine, and friendly people; San Francisco offers hotel stays that are sure to enhance your romantic side. Among the most notable hotels are the Fairmont hotel, located in the Nob Hill area; the Mandarin Oriental, which is known for its best views of the Bay and the city; or the downtown W San Francisco hotel that is close to cable cars, shopping, restaurants, and theatres.
Stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf and stop by Ghirardelli Square where you can pick up some of their famous chocolate before having dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants there such as McCormick and Kuleto’s, where the panoramic view of the Bay, as well as Alcatraz island; both of which are a stunning backdrop. You may also wish to stop by O’Neill’s Irish Pub for an after-dinner drink. You may leave your heart here after departing this great city by the Bay.
Las Vegas. Time will stand still at this resort destination. With a myriad of hotels to choose from you can enjoy your time here without having to worry about time, because there are no clocks in the casinos.
With great weather year round (hot, but always dry), you can wile away the early morning hours at the hotel’s pool and enjoy the evening attending a fabulous show or visit lady luck at the casino.
Whether you take a stay at the Venetian Hotel and enjoy a romantic ride on a gondola; enjoy the Spa and Salon at the Hotel Bellagio; or marvel at the lush indoor gardens, aquarium, and the Secret Garden at the Mirage; Las Vegas is both affordable for any budget and is the perfect weekend romantic getaway.
Lake Placid. Far away from the maddening crowd, you will find comfort and romance at the Mirror Lake Inn. With gorgeous mountain and lake views, fireplace, and very large tubs, you will find the accommodations more than satisfactory. In fact, they are quite conducive to a romantic weekend.
Among the many things you might like to do is to take a walk to the neighboring town of Lake Placid, only two miles away. Here you will find shops along Main Street and you can stop at the Cottage for lunch. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking are some of the activities available at Mirror Lake Inn.
The calm and quiet ambience of this Inn is the perfect weekend getaway destination for couples.
Monday 1 June 2009
Be Aware of Dehydration
With up to 75% of our body weight consisting of water, it can sometimes be difficult to fathom the idea of dehydration. Most often when people hear about dehydration, their focus turns to Third World countries without running water. The fact of the matter is, it’s just as serious here in North America, and many people don’t realize how easily it occurs.
Dehydration is what happens when the amount of water leaving the body is larger than what we are physically putting in. The routine ways in which we can lose the important water in our system are when we sweat or eliminate, or as humidified air escaping our body.
One of the most significant reasons for dehydration is sweating, which is how the body cools itself down. Some situations when this cooling down process occurs could be during hot weather, in areas with excess heating, or sweating due to physical activity. Since sweat is released when we partake in physical activity, keeping yourself healthy and fit requires that you drink enough water both before and after exercise, and possibly during as well.
With a bit of variance with weather conditions, a quick or brisk walk of about thirty minutes around the block or through the park can result in your body generating up to sixteen ounces of sweat. This is the equivalent of about one pound. If you’re not hydrating your system enough, some signs indicating possible dehydration are:
* Excessive thirst or feeling you can’t drink enough* Decreased output of bodily fluids in an attempt to conserve water. In this case urine will be more yellow in color due to its concentration* Continual dry mouth resulting from decreased salivation* Dry eyes as the body attempts to prohibit the creation of tears* Significant decrease in sweat levels* Muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting* Light-headedness, confusion and weakening
Consult a physician when a dehydrated adult presents the following signs in addition to those mentioned above:
* Increased and/or continual vomiting for a period of 24 hours* High fever over 101°F which isn’t relieved with acetaminophen or ibuprophen* Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days
Transportation to a hospital emergency room is recommended if any of the following occur:
* Fever over 103°F* Lethargy, headache or seizure* Chest and/or stomach pain* Inability to urinate over a period of twelve hours* Difficulty breathing* Fainting or unconsciousness
When dealing with possible dehydration in children, in addition to the symptoms outlined above you want to watch for:
* Sunken eyes* Sunken fontanel (soft spot) on babies* Irritability* Sticky or dry mouth or tongue
A visit to the doctor is recommended if any of the following occur:* Blood in stool* Pain in the abdomen* Vomiting for more than 24 hours, or if vomit is green in color consistently* Less urination than usual
Transportation of the child to a hospital emergency room is recommended if any of the following occur:* Your child becomes lethargic* You can’t reach your family physician
The simple practice of drinking enough water both during physical activity and throughout a normal day is enough to prevent dehydration in both adults and children. To ensure everyone receives the appropriate amounts, you may want to consider charts for at home, as well as personal water bottles for each member of your family when outside enjoying some physical activity.
Dehydration is what happens when the amount of water leaving the body is larger than what we are physically putting in. The routine ways in which we can lose the important water in our system are when we sweat or eliminate, or as humidified air escaping our body.
One of the most significant reasons for dehydration is sweating, which is how the body cools itself down. Some situations when this cooling down process occurs could be during hot weather, in areas with excess heating, or sweating due to physical activity. Since sweat is released when we partake in physical activity, keeping yourself healthy and fit requires that you drink enough water both before and after exercise, and possibly during as well.
With a bit of variance with weather conditions, a quick or brisk walk of about thirty minutes around the block or through the park can result in your body generating up to sixteen ounces of sweat. This is the equivalent of about one pound. If you’re not hydrating your system enough, some signs indicating possible dehydration are:
* Excessive thirst or feeling you can’t drink enough* Decreased output of bodily fluids in an attempt to conserve water. In this case urine will be more yellow in color due to its concentration* Continual dry mouth resulting from decreased salivation* Dry eyes as the body attempts to prohibit the creation of tears* Significant decrease in sweat levels* Muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting* Light-headedness, confusion and weakening
Consult a physician when a dehydrated adult presents the following signs in addition to those mentioned above:
* Increased and/or continual vomiting for a period of 24 hours* High fever over 101°F which isn’t relieved with acetaminophen or ibuprophen* Diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days
Transportation to a hospital emergency room is recommended if any of the following occur:
* Fever over 103°F* Lethargy, headache or seizure* Chest and/or stomach pain* Inability to urinate over a period of twelve hours* Difficulty breathing* Fainting or unconsciousness
When dealing with possible dehydration in children, in addition to the symptoms outlined above you want to watch for:
* Sunken eyes* Sunken fontanel (soft spot) on babies* Irritability* Sticky or dry mouth or tongue
A visit to the doctor is recommended if any of the following occur:* Blood in stool* Pain in the abdomen* Vomiting for more than 24 hours, or if vomit is green in color consistently* Less urination than usual
Transportation of the child to a hospital emergency room is recommended if any of the following occur:* Your child becomes lethargic* You can’t reach your family physician
The simple practice of drinking enough water both during physical activity and throughout a normal day is enough to prevent dehydration in both adults and children. To ensure everyone receives the appropriate amounts, you may want to consider charts for at home, as well as personal water bottles for each member of your family when outside enjoying some physical activity.
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