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What Not To Eat During The Holidays

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The holidays are all about family, friends and food. Whether you prefer the appetizers, main course or desserts, there are plenty of temptations to go around during holiday parties. Rather than avoiding certain dishes that you think are bad, here are some of the worst holiday food offenders and why you should stay away from them.

Eggnog

Before you add any liquor, eggnog is still one of the worst holiday drinks you can consume. With the primary ingredients consisting of milk, cream and eggs, it’s no wonder this holiday drink can help add on some serious pounds. Instead of drinking eggnog, look for the traditional hot chocolate. With about one third of the calories, hot chocolate is definitely the better option if you’re looking for a hot winter drink.

Crab cakes

Appetizers can be found all months of the year, but you’re the most vulnerable to consuming more than you should during the winter months. Crab cakes are one of those appetizers that are difficult to resist, regardless of the season. In the case of the crab cake, you’ll find imitation crab meat bound in mayo, rolled in breadcrumbs and dropped into a pot of boiling fat. This results in a fatty ball of calories that equals more than three dozen shrimp. That’s right, more than 36 shrimp. With that said, you might want to swap out those crab cakes for some shrimp cocktail. With fewer calories, you can eat more of them and be more satisfied.

Cocktails

You can’t get through the holidays without having a few nights where you overdo it with the holiday cocktails. Truth be told, some cocktails you can get away with drinking if they’re diet or low in sugar. The classic gin and tonic, however, is not an exception. Tonic water actually contains more than 20 grams of sugar per eight ounce serving, which puts it on the same level as any other lemon-lime soda. If you’re still looking for the bubbles and alcohol content, drink some champagne. It contains one fourth of the sugar and it makes you look way classier.

Beers

Not into liquor? That’s fine, because holiday parties are stocked with beer as well. The problem with beers in the winter is that they’re generally darker brews and heavier, such as porters. While these beers might warm you up, they’ll also make you heavier. When you can, opt for the lighter beer. It generally has fewer calories and still tastes great.

Meat

It’s finally time for the entree and you have your choice of chicken, turkey, or beef. Which one are you going to choose? Maybe if you knew that prime rib packed up to 750 calories, your decision would be a little bit easier. That’s right, the prime rib that you’ve loved for years comes from one of the fattiest parts of the cow. If beef is what you want, opt for the beef tenderloin. It will save you at least 50 to 100 calories and is just as tasty as the prime rib.

Dessert

Ahh, the desserts of the holidays. Impossible to avoid and too good to resist. Holiday pies dominate most dessert tables, and it’s for good reason. They’re full of sugar and fat with just a touch of butter and fruit. While there are a lot of bad pies, the worst one you can consume would have to be the pecan pie. Sticky with corn syrup and sugar, the pecan pie is the worst offender on the dessert table for sure. If you still want dessert but would prefer to avoid the pecan pie, look for the chocolate fondue or angel food cake. Either of these options are much better for you and you’ll save tons of calories swapping out for them.

The holidays are among the worst times of the year to be dieting, especially because there’s always the temptation of amazing food that you really don’t have the opportunity to eat at any other time throughout the year. Instead of giving up everything you love, if you just make some very basic changes to your diet and swap one thing out for another, you’ll be able to focus less on what you’re eating and more on the people you’re spending your holidays with.

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Ann Michaels is a freelance writer who loves the holidays. When she’s not busy putting up her outdoor nativity scenes with her children, she enjoys cooking and baking for family and friends who come up every winter to spend the holidays with her family.





7 Beautiful and Budget Friendly Christmas Decoration Ideas

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Christmas is a time of celebration, light, fun and frolics; and while all of these are seen en-mass in shops, on streets and from the side of the road it is nice to be able to do the same in your home. However, like most highly lauded events, there is expense involved and Christmas can be quite an expensive addition and this doesn’t stop for Christmas decorations.

Fortunately, with a little innovation, a festive willingness and some skill you can ensure that your Christmas decorations shine, but don’t bankrupt Santa.

Gold Pinecones

One of the best ways to ensure that your Christmas looks great but doesn’t go overboard financially is to buy a pot of gold paint. Placing pinecones in paint is a great way to create a cheap but beautiful decoration that can be used on tables, mantle pieces or in baskets or bowls. You can even place some thread around them and use them on the Christmas tree. It’s a low cost way towards looking great.

Have a Drink

One thing that a lot of us will find an abundance of during the period of Christmas is empty bottles. These can be used as a great candle stick holder once cleaned and can really add a dramatic effect to your home.

Go Rummaging

Put on a warm coat and a pair of gloves and use Mother Nature for your decorations this Christmas. Natural evergreens, branches and berries are wonderful items to display beside candles and really create that Christmas feel. Do be sure you place the candles behind a hurricane glass or on a stand to prevent the items catching fire.

Ribbons

Christmas bows can be used to create that wonderful warm Christmas feel. Why not add a coloured ribbon around the pillows on your couch or chairs to make them look like Christmas gifts. It’s a simple and also dun way to bring the season of joviality into your home.

Entry Hall Décor

Why not gather some branches from your home and then add a little spray paint to them and place them in a case in the entry hall or in your dining room. This can create that festive feel for guests and also looks very sophisticated. Make sure that there are no creepy crawlies in your branches before you paint them.

Add light

Lights are one of the things most associated with Christmas and really give that warm festive feel some depth. Making your own luminaries is not that hard and can really yield some fantastic results when they are placed on mantle pieces or stair cases. There are numerous places to find instructions online and they are very low cost Christmas lights.

Wreathes

It’s also quite easy to make your own wreathe and can be achieved by bending greenery into a circle and then tying it with some string or twine. Look for a good thick piece of greenery for this and then if you like you can intertwine berries and other materials within for colour.

Enjoy your Christmas and take time out to enjoy yourself during this most feted of holidays.

Cormac Reynolds writes for Festive- Lights a UK company with a wide supply of Christmas decorations including lights, trees and other items.

How to Have a Great Dating Life on a Tight Budget

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When you are on a tight budget but want to go out on a date, it may seem difficult to find somewhere to go that you can afford. However, even when you do not have much cash, there are some great things you can do with your partner. Described below are some terrific ideas for romantic dates that will not break your bank.

A Movie and Dinner

If you are on a tight budget, one of the best dates you can go on is a movie and dinner. While there are some theatres that do cost a lot of money, there are also some that do not. Take your date to a movie and an affordable restaurant afterwards. There are many restaurants that will not cost you a lot of money but will offer you a great meal.

Make it a Movie Night

If you want to save even more money, instead of going to a theatre, stay home and watch some DVDs instead. Both you and your date can choose two or three movies to watch in the comfort of your own home. Top the night off by ordering pizza or some other type of delivery food. This can be a great way to save money and spend a fabulous night with your partner.

Go to a Sporting Event

If your date likes sports, you can have a lot of fun by going to a sporting event or participating in some form of sport. You can choose to watch an event, or you may opt to become involved yourselves. For example, maybe your date likes to bowl, skate or play tennis. On the other hand, you may wish to watch a local baseball or football game.

Visit a Coffee Shop

Another great and affordable date is visiting a coffee shop. Take your date to a local coffee shop and enjoy a frappuccino or regular cup of coffee. This will give you and your date a chance to talk, enjoy a cup of coffee and get to know each other better. Add a sweet pastry to top the night off.

Take a Romantic Walk

If you are really strapped for cash but want to spend time with your special someone, take him or her for a romantic walk. This date is best in the evening when the moon and stars are out. End your walk by sitting together and gazing at the stars with soft music playing in the background.

It may seem quite difficult maintaining an enjoyable dating life when you are on a tight budget, but it is possible. There are many fun things you can do with your date that will not cost you a lot of money. From going to see a movie to taking a romantic walk under the stars, you and your date are sure to have a great time together.

Written by Wayne B.

Wayne is a casual writer specialising in business advices and saving tips. He finds Brett Kelly to be one of the most inspirational business speakers after attending one of his business presentations.

Discover the Wonderful World of Fashion Sewing Projects

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Sewing can be great fun. And that’s not all – it’s a practical skill that can save you money and help you create wonderful garments. Some might see sewing as a skill of the past, but that’s not the case, it’s still as relevant as ever. Whether its alterations to existing items or grand large-scale projects, sewing can be just the ticket to get the outcome you desire. Here you can see some of the best sewing projects – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned old-hand.

There’s such an endless amount of potential projects that it’s not feasible to list them all here. Creativity is central to sewing and new projects are being conjured up all the time. Millions of sewing enthusiasts have been coming up with new projects for decades now, and it doesn’t take much for you to get involved too.

Avoid Complicated Projects if You’re a Newcomer

It can take some time to get to grips with a sewing machine, especially if you haven’t used one before. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep your first few projects simple while you get the hang of things. Keeping to projects with straight lines is a good idea – as is staying away from more complicated stitching and gathering.

Although one of the main reasons many people get into sewing can be to fix buttonholes and add zippers to items – this can be hard for beginners. For your first few projects, it also might be a good idea to stay away from items that need fasteners.

Choose The Right Fabric for Your First Project

Here’s a great trick that can help you when you’re just starting out in the sewing world – use patterned fabric. Not only does it look great, but any minor mistakes you make will be easily hidden. Less than perfect stitching won’t be as visible.

Winter Sewing Projects

Sewing can be an excellent thing to do as winter approaches, especially around Christmas. There are so many different Christmas decorations you can make – each and every one adding a fantastic seasonal touch to your home.

Let’s face it – Christmas decorations can be expensive these days, but with the right sewing skills you can produce countless charming items for yourself, and your family and friends.
The list of potential Christmas items you could make is endless, from elf hats to Christmas tree decorations, and much, much more.

Fashion Sewing

In order to stay in vogue in today’s faced paced fashion world, alterations can be made to existing items. What might have gone out of fashion can now be made relevant again. The right sewing skills can help you not only alter, but also create great fashionable items. Learning to sew could be the first step to becoming a top fashion designer – as it’s a skill they’ve all mastered.

Home Decorations

Decorating the home isn’t just for Christmas, and the right sewing skills can help you make your house look beautiful all year round. Whether it’s a duvet cover or an exquisite customized lampshade, there are simply countless things you can alter in your home to give an extra special touch, and impress your visitors.

Cushion Covers

Sewing cushion covers is one of the most popular activities in the sewing community. There are so many different creative things you can do to really add that extra special creative touch to your home. Colorful cushion covers are such a simple yet wonderful way to impress your guests. For beginners, it can be a great idea to work on simple “envelope back” cushion covers as they don’t require zips or any other types of fasteners.

Shopping Bags

The great thing about using hand-crafted shopping bags is that it’s better for the environment. Not only do they look great – but you’re saving the need to use unsightly and polluting plastic bags.

Conversions and Upcycling

Whilst making completely new items can be a great thing to do – you don’t always need to start from scratch. There are so many fantastic alterations you can make to existing items, they can be converted into something completely different and exciting.

Upcycling has become increasingly popular in recent times – and it’s not hard to see why. You can rejuvenate old unwanted items and give them a new lease of life. Not only is it a fun and creative thing to do, but it can save you money too! Instead of going out and buying an expensive new quilt – you can piece together older items to make a stylish one of your own. Retro chic fashion is now very vogue, so it doesn’t even matter if things look dated or from another era – that’s a stylistic plus not a negative.

Got an old apron that no longer fits? Don’t throw it away, you can convert it into a hip fabric bag. People don’t want mass-produced items with no character. Your own creations can be completely unique. It’ll not only make you stand out amongst your peers – but it might be the first step towards making money from your wonderful hobby. People love to pay for unique, bespoke items and sewing is a skill that could help you get additional income from the creative pastime you enjoy.

Start Your First Sewing Project Today

If you haven’t given it a go already, then why not? There are so many potential projects that you’re sure to find one to suit your tastes. The internet has a wealth of information and tutorials, meaning even if you’ve never sewn before, you can find the right advice and tips to get started.

You don’t even need a sewing machine, there are a number of simple and fun projects that can be sewn by hand. All top sewers started somewhere, and hand sewing is a skill you should probably learn before going any further. What’s great about hand sewing is you can give it a go without spending loads on an expensive machine. After all, people had been sewing long before machines were even invented.

Amanda Hope has been sewing for many years now, Like everyone, she had to start somewhere. You can find a massive range of Sewing Projects for all ability levels at our website.

The Secret of Throwing a Great Dinner Party

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Cooking Housewife -- Lisa's Dinner party 7-30-09 3

We’ve all seen shows like “Come Dine with Me”, and we all like the idea of holding court in our own homes and entertaining all our guests. But it’s one thing to cook a meal for yourself or your family, and another to cook for a room full of people.

Once you up the numbers there are a lot of new issues you need to consider. Fortunately, with these simple tips you make the whole evening run much more smoothly.

Plan Ahead

The last thing you want to happen on the night is for your guests to turn up, expecting to be fed and entertained, just as you’re beginning to chop the vegetables.  Work out in advance what you’re going to cook, and which ingredients you can prepare the previous day. On the day of the dinner, prepare a salad in the morning and have it waiting, ready, in the fridge. Ideally when it comes to the actual cooking you should have all your ingredients ready to be thrown together and stuck in the oven.

Make Your Meals Scalable

Often you don’t know who’s actually going to turn up to dinner until the last minute, you never know who’s going to drop out and who’s going to turn up at the last minute. For this reason it’s a good idea to make meals that can be easily adjusted just by adding more or less ingredients. Chillies  curries, pasta dishes, there are all sorts of dishes that can be scaled up or down as you need them. And making a pasta dish for 10 people is about the same amount of work as making the same dish for four people.

Write Your Plan Down

Having things written down helps. When you’re preparing a dinner party for a lot of people the fact is that often you’ll have six things happening at the same time and you’re in charge of sorting all of them. It’s easy to get lost. It’s a good idea to have everything that needs doing, and when it needs doing, written down before you start. Yes, life is what happens while you’re making other plans and not everything is going to happen exactly how you envision it, but having everything written down will at least give you an idea of what should be happening.

Booze and Nibbles: A Host’s Best Friend

A soon as your guests arrive start plying them with wine and easy to prepare starters such as carrot sticks, nachos and dips or crackers and cheese. This is a great way to stop everyone from getting too hungry before the main course is served, or bored while they wait for it, and having a bit of booze flowing is a great way to break the ice.

Don’t Do It Alone

I know, I’m the same as well. When it comes to cooking my inner dictator comes out and everyone has to do exactly what I say or get out of the way, and when people do exactly what I say they’re probably doing it wrong.

But the fact is when you’re preparing a large meal, as much as you might want to, you can’t do everything yourself. Get flatmates or family members to help preparing ingredients or side dishes, or simply keeping the guests occupied and the booze flowing.

If you live alone, then go to stage two and start exploiting your friends. If they’re here they’ll probably be happy to muck in with some of the small jobs like setting (or possibly clearing) the table. You can always reward them with more of that booze.

This is Not the Time to Experiment

Yes, we all like trying new things out in the kitchen. But the time to do this is for a flatmate or loved one who knows your cooking well and isn’t afraid to tell you when your food looks and tastes, well, horrible.

If you’re cooking for a large group of people, you want to bring your tried and tested favourite healthy recipes. Something where you know exactly how the dish is going to turn out, how long it will take you, and what unwelcome surprises can happen during cooking. Experiment at your peril.

Chris Farnell is a freelance writer who also puts on a great spread when required.

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