Hellohs everyone!
Im beeeccckkk! Thanks to Zira's, my pretty cousin, who commented i didnt update my blog, well, here i am again, giving sunshine back to my bloggie.
Hit me. Bug me. Tag me. Again..
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas.
And a Happy New Year.
Love,
Rose
Putting on pounds despite your best efforts? The culprit could be one of these sneaky fat traps.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #1: Your CouchBeware, sofa spuds: Researchers at Deakin University in Australia found advertisement that people who watched between one and two-and-a-half hours of TV per day were 93 percent more likely to be overweight than those who watched less than an hour per day. "When adults watch TV, they are virtually motionless," notes Tom Farley, M.D., chair of the department of community health sciences at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. "And research has found that your heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic rate all slow down while you're watching TV ‑- even more than if you were sitting in a chair doing nothing." For the average-size adult, this metabolic decline results in burning 20 to 30 fewer calories per hour, meaning that if you watch five hours of TV a day, you can gain more than a pound each month. And don't forget all the extra calories that pile on from the mindless snacking in front of the boob tube.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #2: Married BlissWhen you exchanged your vows, gaining weight together probably wasn't one of them. But research at the University of Minnesota has found that people often gain an average of five pounds within two years of getting hitched. The reason? Newly married couples' food choices became more and more similar ‑- with women often compromising their eating habits more than men do, according to a Cornell University study. Along with what you eat, the way you eat also changes after you're married: "When you're single, you're more likely to skip meals or just have a salad for dinner. But when you're married, you tend to eat larger meals with multiple courses," says Jeffery Sobal, Ph.D., an associate professor in nutritional sciences at Cornell.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #3: Being Stressed 24/7You'd think that extra-frenetic days would kick you into calorie-burning overdrive. Nope. In fact, stress increases your body's production of a hormone called cortisol, which signals your body to hang on to weight and deposit more fat in your abdomen. (Belly fat is the worst kind to have; it's linked to diabetes, high cholesterol and other health problems.) As if this weren't bad enough, "cortisol also drives your appetite, especially for things that are sweet, fatty and comforting," says Shawn M. Talbott, Ph.D., associate clinical professor of nutrition at the University of Utah and author of The Cortisol Connection. Indulge this stress-induced urge to nosh too often and you can quickly pack on extra pounds. Need proof? A recent study in Denmark found that nurses who were extremely busy but had little influence over how their jobs were done gained significantly more weight than those with less pressure and more control.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #4: Date Night = Drink Night You might think you're being virtuous by drinking only on date night, but if you overdo it, you could end up with extra flab around your waistline. Though the exact mechanism isn't understood, research at the University at Buffalo found that people who drink infrequently, but have four or more drinks on occasion ‑- even if it's just once a week ‑- have more abdominal fat than folks who drink small amounts more regularly.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #5: Dark Winter DaysSurveys have found that many people consume anywhere from a few hundred to 1,500 more calories per day in the winter months. That's especially true of people who experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), characterized by low energy, sadness, irritability or fatigue during the winter months. (According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 20 percent of Americans suffer from mild to severe SAD.) Shorter daylight hours may lead to a decrease in levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, causing you to feel sluggish and to crave carbs and sweets, notes Raymond W. Lam, M.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia.
Weight-Loss Wrecker #6: Skimping on SleepResearch at the University of Chicago has found that having a sleep debt wreaks havoc on your metabolism, making it easier for fat to sneak onto your bod. Sleep deprivation leads to an increase in insulin resistance (a condition in which your body doesn't use blood sugar properly, thereby increasing your risk of diabetes) and a decrease in levels of leptin (a hormone that appears to play a key role in satiety), explains Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., one of the study's authors. These hormonal changes can promote weight gain. While the occasional sleepless night ‑- when you're up with a sick child, for example ‑- isn't likely to be a problem, chronic sleep loss is. It doesn't take long for sleep debt to add up; in fact, some of these adverse hormonal effects have been seen in people who have endured just five days of four hours of sleep per night, Van Cauter notes.
Check out these strategies to offset the weird ways in which your home can widen your waistline.
Adjust the lighting. Research has found that overweight people tend to consume more food in brightly lit settings than when the lights are low. "Bright lighting makes some people feel more aroused, which could lead them to eat faster and consume more total calories," says Nanette Stroebele, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. On the other hand, Stroebele says, dieters tend to consume more in dimmer light, because they lose self-consciousness.
Keep food out of sight. The closer food is, the more likely you are to eat it. Research has found that items on lower shelves in cabinets are more frequently eaten than those on higher ones. And if you serve food from the dinner table, rather than the stove, you're more likely to take a second helping.
Turn off the stereo. "People tend to eat more when listening to music than when eating in silence," Stroebele says. You'll be distracted and sit at the table longer. Other auditory distractions, like the TV, have a similar effect, says a French study.
Someone wrote for me this poem...
Life is a journey u take only once,
In it u find sum1 special once.
One that ur happy to come across,
1 for whom any barrier u would cross.
From god she is sent in the form of an angel,
Sum days u wish u could juz meet this angel.
From u now i may be far,
But 4 u wat i feel is as constant as the northern star.
Question:I am slim and tall,Many find me desirable and appealing.They touch me and I give a false good feeling.Once I shine in splendor,But only once and then no more.For many I am "to die for".
What am I?
Answer:A Cigarette.
Question:What is the longest word in the dictionary?
Answer:Smiles (there is a mile between the two S's)
Question:What is the hardest thing about eating a vegetable?
Answer:Getting him/her in and out of the wheelchair!
"It looks like something my grandma would've worn for the dance scene in Back to the Future!"
Brock, 22, waiter
"The combination is garish, and it doesn't match."
Diego, 23, teacher
"It might be cute if my girlfriend were 17, but not 30. It's too demure and innocent."Joel, 28, student
The overall verdict:
Sweet & Girly: 29.1%
tuffy & Frosty: 70.9%
"It's a major feat for a woman to be able to pull off that girl-next-door look. But if she can, it's very cool. It says she doesn't need to use clothes to stand out."
Allan, 27, naval officer
"Very preppy and dull. There is no character or inspiration in this outfit."
Anthony, 29, IT consultant
"She looks like my grandmother's apron."
Marcel, 31, student
The overall verdict:
Smart & Sexy: 44.9%
Frumpy & Dumpy: 55.1%
"The tie makes her a little intimidating."
Rocco, 23, marketing associate
"I like it. The tie is fun, especially with the sexy lace."
Ariel, 22, student
"This is something some Madonna wannabe would wear. I don't like women wearing ties -- it doesn't seem very feminine."
Andrew, 32, auction-house consultant
The overall verdict:
Fashion Forward: 27.6%
Too Masculine: 72.4%
Fur
"Very sexy and stylish. I just hope they didn't have to kill too many animals to make it."
Michael, 24, real-estate agent
"That's hot. I'd turn around if I saw a woman wearing this."
Ehren, 24, musician
"She's trying way to hard to be cool, and that's a turnoff."
Matthew, 28, doctor
The overall verdict:
Horribly Cruel: 81.9%
Totally Cool: 18.1%
Head-to-Toe Black
"You can never go wrong with all black."
Cameron, 27, naval officer
"She looks simple and elegant. She seems low maintenance, like she wants you to focus more on her than her outfit."
Richard, 37, architect
"I prefer color on a woman."
Marco, 26, in the military
The overall verdict:
Cold & Creepy: 34.6%
Sleek & Chic: 65.4%
English teachers are tough to date. Wen we first started dating, i lived in New York adn she lived Ohio. And i wld write her all these letters. She wld sent them back corrected. - female comedian.
If u wan a guy to do sthg for u, all u hv to do is introduce an element of senseless danger, and it become a sport. "Honey, y dun u take out the trash?-While i chase u on rollerblades with a chain saw." - female comedian.
Do u rmb wen all of ur little gfs wld get together at a slumber parties n play with the ouija board? U wld ask it, Who am i going to marry?, Who am i going to marry? And it wld spell out some cute boys names like Kevin or Jason or Satan. - female comedian.
Men are like payphones. Some of them take ur money. Most of them don't work and when u find one that does, someone else is on it. - female comedian.
My favourite machine at the gym is the vending machine. - female comedian.
Why is it whenever u go out to dinner with someone u'd really like to impress, u leave the bathroom with a little piece of toilet paper still stuck to your tongue?
- female comedian.
She who laughs last didnt get the joke quickly enough. - female comedian.
I shld understand men better than i do becoz i grew up with brothers. I wanted sisters; they are better for a girl. They teach u how to put on make up, how to do your hair, give u dating tips. U know wad brothers teach u? How to unhook a bra with your teeth. - female comedian.
I would like to have a bf in prison so i will always know where he is. -female comedian.
There are a lot of good-looking men out there. but keep in mind that no matter how cute and sexy a guy is, there's always some woman somewhere who is sick of him. - female comedian.
The greatest line i ever heard was from this guy who said, "I like a woman who can give me a real challenge." So i mailed him my bank statement. Figure this out, big guy. - female comedian.
I think the articles in women's magazines are totally unrealistic abt wad u can expect from a man in bed. I saw this article entitled "Training your Man to Find Your G-spot." Get real. The guy i'm dating can't even find my apartment.
- female comedian.
My mother could make anybody feel guilty. She used to get letters of apology from pple she didnt even know. - female comedian.
The key to any great date is interesting, stimulating conversation. Even if there is a physical spark between two daters, the relationship will eventually fizzle if there is no connection on an intellectual level – if that’s what you are looking for, of course.But how can daters overcome things like the first date jitters, awkward silences, corny pick-up lines, and bad jokes? Under the pressure of dating and trying to impress someone else, it’s hard to be a charming, witty conversationalist.
Here are some tips on how to have great conversations on your dates.
Conversation Tip #1
Make eye contact.
Eye contact is the key to a meaningful conversation, regardless of whether you’re on a date, in the workplace, or in any other social situation. Eye contact shows others that you are interested in what they are saying. Avoiding eye contact is usually interpreted as a sign of apathy or dishonesty in Western society.Be sure to look into your date’s eyes and hold the gaze for just a moment too long while speaking. This will show your date that you are confident and attracted to him/her.
Conversation Tip #2
Avoid the interrogation/interview style conversation.
Yes, the goal of the first few dates is to get to know the other person better, but don’t treat it like a job interview. It can be a real buzz killer to ask the same old boring questions like, “what do you do,” and “how many siblings do you have?” If the date is going well, the answers should come up naturally without you having to fire question after question.
Conversation Tip #3
Keep the conversation light.
For many, it is generally a good rule to avoid the “tough topics” when you are on a first date. This includes topics like religion and politics. Now, this doesn’t mean your conversation should be superficial. But these are such contentious, subjective topics for most people that there might be a chance of argument. Save it for another time and concentrate on getting to know your date instead.
Conversation Tip #4
Bring up music, art, or movies.
A safe topic is generally the art realm. Most people have a favorite musician or movie and it is something that everyone can talk about. It is an easy conversation generator and the subjects are so open ended that you could talk about it for quite some time.
Conversation Tip #5
Lead the conversation.
If you sense the conversation is dwindling or drifting too far into the fatal “boring zone,” don’t be afraid to take charge. Steer the conversation in a direction that you would like. Simply saying “enough about that… let’s talk about something more interesting,” can instantly change a boring date to an exciting date. And it will show your date that you are a take-charge type of person.
Conversation Tip #6
Compliment your date.
Whether it be about how they look or something that you admire about them, everyone likes to receive compliments. And this tip goes for women as well.
Conversation Tip #7
Be playful and flirty.
Show off your fun side and don’t be too serious. Dating is about having a good time with each other. A great way to spark some fun conversation is to ask those playful, silly questions that people don’t usually bring up for fear of coming off as juvenile. Don’t be afraid to ask your date what his/her favorite color is or what kind of ice cream he/she likes. It will definitely break the ice and make you laugh.
Conversation Tip #8
Don’t worry about uncomfortable silences.
Most daters dread those moments of unwelcome, awkward silence. But you don’t have to go a mile a minute the entire date – it’s simply exhausting!A sign that you are comfortable with someone is when you can enjoy a good silence together and not feel like you have to talk the entire time. So if you find your conversation has come to a lull, relax. Let the next course of discussion come naturally. This will show your date that you are comfortable with yourself, which will make him/her feel more comfortable with you.
Conversation Tip #9
Speak kindly to everyone.
Respect everyone else around you – that means waiters, bartenders, cab drivers, whoever! The chemistry between the two of you might be great, but your date will be turned off if you are petty towards others. Remember that your date is always listening and judging you. Treat everyone you talk to with kindness and your date will notice.
Conversation Tip #10
Avoid the “fatal questions.”
Questions like, “am I your type,” “how do you like me so far,” and “where do you see this going,” have no place on the first date. A lot of daters will be put off by these types of questions, because it shows a lack of confidence. In most cases, you will know if a date is going well – it isn’t something you should have to ask.________________________talk it up
Conversation is a skill and an art form. Practice and cultivate this skill, no matter where you are. The more exchanges you initiate, the more confident you will feel. This will lead to meeting lots of new people and more fun, no matter where you go or what you do.
There's good news for all of us hopeless romantics, romance novel addicts and chick flick junkies. It turns out there's scientific merit to that whole "Love at First Sight" thing.
In fact, a recent study published in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships showed that the first few minutes of meeting someone has a huge influence on the course the relationship will ultimately take. (Which explains why you know before the drinks come that your "just perfect for you" blind date is a no-go, or that hunky online hottie has definite possibilities.)
Communications researchers Artemio Ramirez and Mike Sunnafrank randomly paired 164 college freshmen and let them talk for periods of three, six or ten minutes. Then, the students filled out a questionnaire which asked them to predict what kind of relationship they would have, ranging from being casual acquaintances to close friends, as well as how much the two had in common and how much they liked the person they'd just met.
At the end of the nine-week course, the students were asked to judge how their initial predictions had held up. Students who reported a positive impression after the first meeting were more likely to have developed a friendly relationship after the nine-week period.
This was true regardless of whether the initial chat was three, six or ten minutes, meaning the snap judgments we make based on first impressions are actually fairly accurate.
In a recent London Daily Mail article, Professor Artemio Ramirez, co-author of the study said: "Earlier research had assumed there was a cumulative effect that happens in the first few days of meeting that helps determine how a relationship will develop. But we're finding that it all happens much sooner than that - it's literally within minutes. Romantic relationships begin with people making judgments very quickly."
Ramirez says, "It's almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. We make a prediction about what kind of relationship we could have with a person and that helps determine how much effort we are willing to put into developing a relationship. If I think we could become friends, I'll communicate more, tell you more about myself and do things that will help ensure a friendship does develop."
What's most interesting was that the students' predictions were actually better indicators of how close they would become than either how much they had in common or even how much they liked each other.
Which means, when it comes to first impressions, you'd better get on your game.
Below are three tips to help you rev up your "first site" vibe, and add a little vaa-vaa voom to that crucial first three minutes:
Wear red. Or blue.
For women who want to create an on-the-spot thrill, wearing red is the way to go. According to color experts, red is the most stimulating color you can wear. In fact, wearing or seeing red actually increases blood flow, and mimics attraction.
If you're a guy, your best bet is to go true blue. Leatrice Eiseman, Director of the Pantone Color Institute says women are attracted to men wearing the color blue. Eiseman says, guys who frequently wear blue are "stable, faithful and always there." The blue guy is perfect for a serious relationship -- he's reliable, faithful and can match his own clothes.
Smile.
Psychology and body language experts agree that smiling is one of the fastest and best ways to make yourself more attractive and approachable. It's not necessary to look like you're trying out for "Used Car Salesman of the Year" - just your usual "I'm happy to be here and I'm having a fantastic time" face will do the trick.
Instant Chemistry.
A study at the University of Chicago has shown that men associate the scents of cinnamon and vanilla with love. To kick start your allure, women can wear a cinnamon-vanilla scented lotion or perfume. (There's a great one called "Man-Magnet" at herbanavenues.com)
According to Laura Davimes, aromatherapy expert, and owner of Herban Avenues, "Wearing cinnamon/vanilla blends increases the presence of pheromone-like substances and dramatically increases attraction."
The food-love connection continues: Women, according to the study, are drawn to a black licorice scent. So, keep some licorice or Good 'n Plenty in your shirt pocket. And, if you're at a nightclub and just happen to spill some Jaggermeister on your shirt, hey, don't worry about looking like a slob --just consider it your lucky night.
I am an old-fashioned girl. Well, sort of. Actually, I'm one of those new modern woman/old-fashioned girl hybrids; the stiletto feminist. You know, a take-no-prisoners, hard-ass over-achiever at the office, and an ultra girly-girl at heart.
A lot of women are just like me. We grew up with moms and grandmas and aunts who told us never to call a boy, and that a gentleman should always hold open the door for a lady and offer to pay for dinner. Of course, these same moms and aunts also went to the office, clawing and fighting for equal rights. They succeeded in raising daughters (and frequently sons) who understood that women could be fabulously successful at work, but who still held out the dream for an elegant, old-fashioned sweetheart of a guy who would toss his jacket over a puddle so we wouldn't ruin our Manolos, call us mid-week to schedule a weekend dinner date, and squash (or at least relocate to the patio) any six-legged creatures that happened to find their way into the kitchen.
So, although we Old-Fashioned Girls (OFGs) feel pretty much at home while being aggressive superwomen at the office, many of us get a little bit squeamish when it comes to making the first move with regard to online romance. When faced with the idea of approaching a man first, we feel weird. We feel desperate. We feel, uh, trampy.
And, frankly, we OFGs are not entirely off base when it comes to our mind-set about being the romantic aggressor. A survey of men of the last two years reveals that a majority of men enjoy it when a woman pursues them, but believe that there is ultimately something wrong with a woman who makes the first move, and perceive her to be either desperate, or an easy target for sex. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some men (darlings, aren't they?) could care less about who makes the first move.
However, when it comes to online dating we OFGs may be at a bit of a disadvantage to our less-traditional and more pursuant counterparts. After all, while we are sprucing up our profiles, creating just the right video message and polishing our email repartee while we're waiting for Mr. Right to track us down, our go-get-'em sisters are busy scouting eligibles and whipping out email and IM banter.
If you're the type of woman who never calls a man, is it the same thing if you email him? Is sending a "smile" the equivalent to batting your eyelashes at a guy at a party, or more like buying him a double tequila shooter and telling him you have a tattoo you want to show him in private?
The fact is, online dating isn't like regular dating. When grandma handed down the fourth commandment of romance to never call a man, she had no idea the future would hold anything as wild as online dating. And now that she's back in the dating pool, she's just as perplexed as to what "counts" and what doesn't as the rest of us OFGs. Email or not to email? Meet or not to meet? "Smile" or not to "smile?"
Basically, it all comes down to what works for you. If what you're doing now isn't working for you, think about going outside your comfort zone and doing something bold, like making the first move. Sure, the OFG in you will seep out a bit - after all, you are who you are. And, although it certainly wasn't easy (or comfortable) for our mothers to go out in the workplace in the beginning, we don't have any trouble at all now polishing up our Pradas to kick a little office butt.
Bottom line? Go ahead and send a little spark to that cutie you've been eyeing. You never know. Maybe he's been too shy to approach you first. Maybe he digs women who know what they want. And just maybe he's been looking for an old-fashioned girl exactly like you.
