5 Healthy Rules for a Flat Belly!

I see so many people punishing their bodies in order to achieve the flat stomach of their dreams. It doesn't have to be this way! People need to trust health specialists a little bit more. They don't have some evil intent to get you fat.

I found this article on Woman's Health: "The 5 Rules of the Belly Off Club" and honestly it's rare that I find such a clear and succinct plan to start you up. You'll be able to maintain or lose weight at a healthy pace and with the right exercise feel much more energized and satisfied with your body.

Note: Please don't overdo the weight loss once you can tell that it's working, no woman should be confused for a little boy. I'm all about having a bit of meat to add those feminine curves, I just don't find a protruding belly one of them :)

I hope Ramadan was a great experience for everyone and wish you happy festivities this Eid!

boys n girls: Classic Scenario II

A fact of life I've grown to learn (yes according to my 22 years) is that in many cases whenever you start using pressure and force to make two things fit together, something is amiss. Examples are seen everywhere from trying to force:

• your jeans to close after thanksgiving dinner
• the wrong key in a hole
• the glass slipper on the ugly step sister
• an incompatible boy and girl

Scenario: Lovely girl, great guy, don't really get to know each other that well, relationship loses any ounce of illusionary libido it might have had but for some reason it's so hard to leg go.

As two separate individuals you're great and everyone seems to think you're both catches. That's why the last thing you want is to lose this person everyone seems to love. Over time you hardly see this person but soon start to live through the very few fun times you shared (most of which were at the beginning when you didn't know each other that well). You hope that things will get better and expect wonderful loving times you will have in the future. I blame Disney.

Suddenly, it's not only you, everyone around you starts noticing how sour the relationship has become but you're just not ready to let go. All you can think of are those fun times you NEED to fulfill, which will prove everyone wrong. The "unfinished business."

Sorry to say this but unless your relationship is a remake of Casper the Friendly Ghost (unlikely), unfinished business does not apply. If you're not compatible in the beginning, get ready for a long and frustrating search to find the road to love and there's no time to build a fake one that's sturdy enough. Of course there are exceptions. Please don't convince yourself you're one of them, let it get proven to you. Don't make excuses for the other person either, suck it up and leg go. Trust me, I know all too well that it's not easy and it takes a lotta discipline. Ultimately, if it's meant to be in the future then it'll happen without any force at all.

You're probably reading this with a grain of salt because you would NEVER try to indirectly force someone to like you or force a relationship to work.... You'd be surprised how easy it is for even the most logical of us to come up with reasons to back up the unhealthy, psychotic obsessive acts we are capable of!

To the Growing Oenophile

      I've witnessed that showing off your knowledge of wines can either be a means to impress or a moment to dread. How many of you have been on that date where you're on a role, only to find yourself shot down when the wine list comes along? You know you can always give the sommelier the "I trust your recommendation" nudge, that's of course if you're fine with living out of a can of tuna for the rest of the month. Unless you were raised with it being a mandatory ingredient to every meal, becoming a savvy wine aficionado does not come without a couple thousand experienced taste buds.

      For some reason an exceedingly large number of students grow a fondness to the fermented grape juice at some point of their college career. Maybe it's the swanky glass or the fact that Greek and Roman Gods lived by it, but the "urge-to-feel-more-classy-and-sophisticated" bug doth bite many. For the majority of these students the most affordable ailment would probably range from $5 - $20. I clearly remember forcing myself to drink wine with my friends and family, claiming that it added SO much flavor to my food. I had no clue what I was talking about. Don't know why I'm acting like I do now.

      While I feel rather special to say that my wines of choice are Riesling and Zinfandel, I am no novice by any account. Until I get the luxury of spending my days traveling from one vineyard to the next, I have to take the advice from people who do know their wine. That's why Cor.Kz the iPhone application with over 530,000 bottles of wine with ratings and reviews from the experts is a great accompaniment. Also, if you have the time before buying the wine you can visit nataliemaclean.com where you can pair wine with food.

      Remember, drink in moderation. Don't take the whole wine is good for you out of control. Studies have shown that the resveratrol in red wine is said to fight cancer, lower blood sugar and have other great cardiovascular effects... in mice. We're hoping the same goes to humans.

*Moment of Silence*

Blackberry I love you, But You're Bringing Me Down

You might find this absolutely ridiculous, but I have gotten myself into a very serious love-hate relationship. I have always tried to hold the upper hand in my relationships and well I've completely failed this time. If you get nauseous easily don't read on. I don't want to lose readers... if it's not too late. 

So you're still reading... you either feel sorry for me or are worried you might be in the same boat... which is sure to sink. On a serious note, I can't be the only one who has fallen hard for their blackberry. I'm just completely dependent on it. It's not a one sided relationship, I just know that I need it much more than it needs me. It's that damn messenger that keeps me holding on. 

I'm more than fine with being taunted by my family about how rude I am for constantly giving more attention to my blackberry. I have consciously become impolite for it.

Recently I've come to realize that it has turned into somewhat of an abusive relationship. I'm actually injured! I have diagnosed myself with "Blackberry Thumb," although I do have a record of misdiagnosing myself (I thought I was lactose intolerant for 4 years before I went to a doctor and was told otherwise). According to an article on Techrepublic (who goes there?), "Blackberry Thumb is a stress-related injury due to over-use of any pda or smartphone... the condition is caused by highly repetitive, forceful thumb movements with the thumbs held back from the palms. The symptoms are pain in the thumb and region around the base of the thumb and hand."

Whenever I'm in a conversation on blackberry messenger I type as though I'm helping someone unlock a code to a nuclear bomb that is set to explode any second. It's like I'm afraid someone's feelings might get hurt if I don't tell them what I did that day as soon as the message is read. I'll go as far as replying at a traffic light and I've seen worse. Honestly, who's feelings get hurt by those "read" notifications... Unless you've just asked someone if they love you for the first time (which is stupid to do over bbm anyway) you should be alright if they take some time to reply. Alas, what I thought would be exercise for my thumbs turned into pain.

It's that red light... I'm spellbound by it. It can be seen no matter what you put on top of it! I try so hard to ignore but it's useless. If I put my phone on silent it's even worse. I'll hold my breath and stare at the blinker constantly to wait for it! At least my latest blackberry is honest, my first one was constantly blinking for no reason. It also got run over by a car so I guess we're even.

To all you Blackberry users, try not to stress your poor thumbs too much. Take breaks, let people get over the time you take to reply.

Anyway, despite it all I'm happy and if that's the case why should I let go. I already know I'M the one who's going to get hurt, I'm fine with it....

Where can I get help?

I've been obsessed with penguins for such a long time now, before all the penguin movie craze and NO I'm not trying to be Jessica Alba. That was just annoying. Anywhose Surfs Up is definitely one of my favorites. Who can resist these ickle penguinos!!! If you haven't seen the movie your life is worthless...

Can't Get Enough of The Beatles?

I know I can't. Those Beatles just don't stop do they. 9/9/09 should be dedicated to the band as a remastered version of their catalogue will be released. According to the remaining "Lads of Liverpool" this release is the closest reproduction to what their music sounded like in the studio. 

It doesn't even stop there- you can now find your inner Lennon with the new release of "The Beatles: Rock Band."After an unhealthy addiction I formed with Rock Band (sharing the guitar was out of the question) I was able to let go before I formed "anti-social Rock Band" syndrome. I think I'm starting to feel the itch to go out and buy it with this new release though...

Praying in Style

Why not pray in the sixth largest mosque in the world if you can? Yesterday I paid a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Nahyan Mosque which can accommodate up to 40,000 people. Large would be an understatement. With it's 57 domes and 4 tall minarets made of white marble, it feels like you're entering Aladdin's world... which is like a dream come true for me.

The mosque has such a zen and pure vibe and it was lovely to pray in. As for my sister-in-law who isn't Muslim she felt it to be such a great learning experience after the mini tour we gave her. There are tours throughout the week for non-Muslims, which I highly recommend... just at a cooler time of the year, as feeling sweaty is not supposed to be part of the experience. Also, be sure to check the guidelines for dress code before visiting. I did find it a little unnecessary to note that people aren't allowed to wear swimwear or show any pda though... if you don't know this already you have problems... to say the least.

I've attached some photos we took...they don't do it justice at all:

"The best first audition I have ever heard" - Simon Cowell, X Factor

August '09 Playlist

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Mr. Pitiful - Matt Costa

Let Your Love Grow Tall - Passion Pit
Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
Little Bit - Lykke Li
Sleepyhead - Passion Pit
Any Fun - Coconut Records
Hearts on Fire - Cut Copy
Lift Me Up - Moby
Not Fair - Lily Allen
Skeleton Boy - Friendly Fires
Dance, Dance, Dance - Lykke Li
In for the Kill - La Roux
I Want You - Peter Bjorn and John
Saint Jerome - Coconut Records
Just the Past - Peter Bjorn and John
All Love - Ingrid Michaelson
Courtyard - Coconut Records
Curs in the Weeds - Horse Feathers
Over the Rainbow - Melody Gardot
Like Lavender - Horse Feathers
Time Flies - Lykke Li

Thanks to the Cinnamon Trees & the Bees

For those of you who know me well you know I can't live without cinnamon. I had this obsession even before I found out about all of its health benefits (which was today).... I can add it to everything, from sweet dishes to savory ones, it's just always that missing taste to complete my meals. Considering a similar obsession with honey, I've recently been liking the combo of both together a bit too much. I found a list of benefits that the combo can help with by either making a paste or mixing some cinnamon and about a teaspoon of honey with warm water:

• Arthritis
• Reducing cholesterol
• Curing cold
• Curing infertility
• Upset stomachs
• Strengthening immune system
• Promotes longevity
• Better digestion
• Reduces itchiness (of insect bites)
• Skin care
• Hair care
• Dental care
• Weight loss

How often do you find natural remedies that taste so good? Stock up.