Halloween is upon us and it’s exciting not just because you can go out and beg for free candy but there are just so many things you can do. Having trouble seeing what I’m talking about? Well here are some entertaining night festivities that will be scary, creepy, and fun with the family or your friends. Take a look at some things to do on Halloween. Continue reading →

Jams were developed in ancient times as a means of preserving fruits that would otherwise quickly spoil. When preserved, fruits resist spoilage because they lack the water that microorganisms need in order to grow. Continue reading →

If you have become accustomed to thinking about celery as a crunchy, low-cal vegetable but not a key part of your health support, it is time to think again. Recent research has greatly bolstered our knowledge about this vegetable anti-inflammatory health benefits, including its protection against inflammation in the digestive tract itself. Continue reading →

Roses for the longest time have enjoyed the honour of being the most popular flowers in the world. The reason for popularity of the rose flower may be its wide variety in terms of colour, size, fragrance and other attributes. The rose has been a symbol of love, beauty, even war and politics from way back in time. The variety, colour and even number of Roses carry symbolic meanings. The Rose is most popularly known as the flower of love, particularly the red rose. Roses have been the most popular choice of flowers for the purpose of gifting across the world. They also act as a great addition to home and office decor.

A bunch of roses or even a single rose works wonders aesthetically and considerably enlivens a place. A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over a hundred species and thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing or trailing with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and north west Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant. Roses have acquired cultural significance in many societies. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach seven meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses. Over hundreds of years they have been specially bred to produce a wide variety of growing habits and a broad range of colours from dark red to white including as well yellow and a bluish/lilac colour.

Although carrots are available throughout the year, locally grown carrots are in season in the summer and fall when they are the freshest and most flavourful. This vegetable are related to parsnips, fennel, parsley, anise, caraway, cumin and dill. Carrots can be as small as two inches or as long as three feet, ranging in diameter from one-half of an inch to over two inches. While we usually associate carrots with the color orange, carrots can actually be found in a host of other colours including white, yellow, red, or purple.

Carrots are perhaps best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrient that was actually named for them: beta-carotene. However, these delicious root vegetables are the source not only of beta-carotene, but also of a wide variety of antioxidants and other health-supporting nutrients. The areas of antioxidant benefits, cardiovascular benefits, and anti-cancer benefits are the best-researched areas of health research with respect to dietary intake of carrots. Given their antioxidant richness, it’s not surprising to find numerous research studies documenting the cardiovascular benefits of carrots.

Our cardiovascular system needs constant protection from antioxidant damage. This is particularly true of our arteries, which are responsible for carrying highly oxygenated blood. While you might expect to find a large number of human research studies documenting the benefits of carrot intake for eye health, there are relatively few studies in this area. Most studies about carotenoids and eye health have focused on carotenoid levels in the bloodstream and the activities of the carotenoids themselves, rather than the food origins of carotenoids. Still, we have found some smaller scale human studies that show clear benefits of carrot intake for eye health.

The anti-cancer benefits of carrot have been best researched in the area of colon cancer. Some of this research has involved actual intake of carrot juice by human participants, and other research has involved the study of human cancer cells types in the lab. While much more research is needed in this area, the study results to date have been encouraging.

Strawberries are delicious anytime! Bright red juicy strawberries. If you’re not already a fan of strawberries, you should be. Not only are they juicy, summery and delicious, they’re a bona fide super food, too. Continue reading →

If you live in Ontario, you would know that we have been blessed with such a minor winter this year. Thus far, I believe we have had to shovel about twice and it is already March! It is pretty awesome! In fact, we had some fairly warm days! And, it was quite obvious us Torontonians knew how lucky we were! We have had some horrible winters these past few years. Anyone remember that intense ice storm two years back? Where, some houses had no power for over two weeks. Forget outside, it was freezing in doors as well! However, the roads were quite beautiful! Icicles hung off the branches of trees and got so heavy! Many trees were weighed down by the icicles and snapped off. But, it was beautiful. Roads were white while the crystal embellished branches and trees lay on the roads! Photographers must have been blessed with the unique landscapes!  Not many cars were driving on the roads thus, it was such a pretty sight to admire outside one’s window.

I cannot even imagine this Winter being nearly as cold as that winter! And it is quite obvious that we are well aware of how blessed the conditions have been. We had one of our first heavy snowfalls at the start of March! Yes, you heard me right, MARCH!! But, it is quite rare to have such a mild winter thus, no one is even complaining about the snowfall. It is almost like we have been waiting for the cold to come and to get it over with! And we are praying to not skip a beautiful hot summer!!
Since Spring has basically been here for the past few months, we cannot forget to get that Spring cleaning. It is amazing that we can do it earlier in the year. Throwing out all the unnecessary junk should be mandatory at least once a year! I find most of my hoarding is done in the cold winters! I feel the need to shop for more sweaters, thicker pants, wool socks and so much more. This spring cleaning should be a breeze!!!

The purple ribbon represent International Women’s day

R – E – S – P – E – C – T as Aretha Franklin sang was a song to give every strong woman out there a voice! Hence its a woman’s anthem to this day! Yes that song is from almost 50 years ago… But it speaks volumes! This coming is Tuesday is International Woman’s Day! A day to not only celebrate the respect, appreciation, and love towards females who have made a difference from politics, economy, and social achievements; but also us smaller women who strive to be good people on a regular basis! I mean, we are made of sugar, spice and all things nice… there’s only so little we can do wrong… I’m kidding! Men and women were created equally; we just smell nicer! 😉 

So what are you going to do for yourself that day? I mean its obvious you deserve it! How about gather your favourite women and have a stellar girls night?? Whether the conversation be when your next mani-pedi session will be or when there will be the next female president; there is nothing like spending time with your favourite like minded ladies! 

Fun Fact: Some like to wear a purple ribbon on International Women’s Day! Will you be wearing one?

Is there still a fight to fight as females?? Indeed there is!

In a Canada based article published June of 2015; it was found that there still is a large salary gap between men and women. Based on a study conducted by Catalyst Canada, a non profit organisation, a Canadian woman earns eighty two cents for every dollar a man makes! The only positive is that the statistic is slightly better than our southern neighbours the United States; but its still not acceptable! It is understood that this gap is due to the fact that women take time off for child care; is that acceptable? What is your opinion? Not all women choose to have children especially in a career driven world; is that fair that an assumption is made and hence salaries are docked? Even if a women has a child; a man is also privy to his own child. Will he not take time off to tend to his children? It is indeed possible. Should gender assumptions and stereotypes made by corporations be allowed to dictate salary? 

Although we have come miles from where gender inequality used to be; there is no doubt we are far from equal in politics, the workplace and sometimes even in the home. It will be a continuous battle until its a direct 50/50. We as women need to band together to not only raise awareness but also accept our battle and rise above it! Its days like International Women’s Day where we see what changes have been made; and what changes need to be made! Let’s make sure our future generation see this day as a piece of history rather than their present reality. 

Olivia drama for the win in this week’s episode of bachelor Ben! The stirring drama of last week’s episode was surely continued as Ben pulls Olivia aside to ask why the girls in the house hate her. She says it must be because s won’t paint her nails, or braid hair with them. Like come on girl, haven’t you ever been to camp! Classic Bachelor keeps Olivia because after all, who doesn’t love the drama!  Following this conversation another rose ceremony begins and he says bye to Jennifer. Yes everyone, apparently there was a Jennifer this season, who knew – Bye Felicia! Continue reading →