The Blonde Diaries

Double Decker Bus Tours: Trip to London Not Required

I was suppose to go to London in May but the trip fell through and my reservations had to be canceled at the last minute. One of the things I was looking forward to doing was riding on one of their red double decker buses and partaking in a tour of London. I have never seen or ridden in a double decker bus and thought it would be the coolest thing to experience.

I’m not sure when I will ever have the chance to go to London but my dream of riding a double decker bus and touring a fabulous city are far from over. There is a company called CitySights NY that my friend Mikki was telling me about today. You see she just went to New York City a few months ago and finally downloaded all of her vacation pictures from her digital camera. But while she was there she saw double decker buses taking people around the city giving New York City Sightseeing tours. She was telling me how neat it was and how she wished that the weather would have been a tad nicer because she would have taken a tour. If riding around in a double decker bus isn’t exactly your thing CitySights also offers attraction tickets and day trips from New York to Boston and Washington DC so you really don’t need to be a tourist to take advantage of the great things this company offers. I can’t wait to try it out for myself and experience the sights of NYC from the top of a bus.

Go Bananas!

Earlier I posted about how we shouldn’t be banana snobs and posted some awesome banana facts. Well there were too many to post in one post without making you scroll all over the page so I broke it up into two posts. This is the continuation of that post on awesome things bananas do for you and I hope afterwards you “Go Bananas” with me and start embracing this superstar fruit.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system..

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine,’ eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death from strokes by as much as 40%!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A banana a day keeps the doctor away!’

BBQ Shrimp Recipe Quest

Growing up in South Louisiana, I always had fresh, domestic seafood at my fingertips.  I absolutely loved fresh shrimp and fresh crawfish but the restaurants and my friends around there tended to fry everything which isn’t so good for the waistline.  Well after some searching both online and in the grocery store I learned that I could barbecue shrimp and have a tasty, non-fried shrimp dish.  The recipe I created with cajun spices, seasonings, butter, and shrimp was absolutely delicious but Mike had an allergic reaction so I am looking for a new barbecue shrimp dish/recipe.   I think the problem was in one of the spices I used but I’m not 100% sure and don’t want to continue experimenting with his health. I’m not too sure how to make a barbecue sauce from scratch that would blend with shrimp so I am looking for ideas from my readers. :) 

Continuing on the BBQ shrimp recipe I did make, I would love to submit it to the Great American Seafood Cook off contest. Not sure if you have ever heard of this event so I’ll tell you a little about it. The Great American Seafood Cook Off contest is taking place this weekend, August 2-3, 2008 in New Orleans. The cook off is featuring 5 chefs who are showcasing their favorite domestic, sustainable seafood recipes. It is actually a great way to see some of the top chefs in action and gather some great new recipes to try at home. Additionally, the idea of pointing out quality, domestic seafood is really exciting because you don’t have to worry about how long it has been frozen or what was dumped in the water where it was living. With domestically sustainable seafood since it is fresh and local, there are no worries! I am really excited to see what recipes are showcased and who wins the contest this year. Each of the recipes will be posted on the official cook off site for everyone to try at home. Yummy!

Health Tip #5

This has got to be one of the most important tips I have found to date and possibly for the rest of this series. I know I sound like I am getting ahead of myself, but once you read it you will know what I am talking about. Everyday there is at least one story in the news about a person needing CPR. What is frustrating though is trying to find someone that knows CPR or a place that offers classes that are convenient for you to attend to learn yourself. I know I am behind in learning the latest technique and trying to track down a class with my schedule is nearly impossible. Well that is until now:

Learning CPR doesn’t have to be a major ordeal. In fact everyone should take the time to learn the proper technique so you can be prepared. If you can’t find a trainer or don’t have the time bring the CPR class into your home with CPRAnytime.com. This is a DVD kit that teaches you CPR at home. It is $30 per kit.

For $30 I think everyone should be running out to buy this kit. I know I will and I was excited to see this in my Shape magazine a few months back. Spread the word and let everyone you know hear about how easy it is to learn CPR while in their own home.

*this is not a paid post*

Don’t be a Banana Snob!

Next time you turn your nose up at a banana you might want to think again. Bananas aren’t really the prettiest fruit out there nor do they have the greatest taste compared to say a strawberry or pear. Bananas just feel so plain to me sometimes and I know others feel the same way. But I think all of us banana non-lovers, me included, need to rethink our attitudes towards bananas. Maybe the banana in my lunch box should be the first thing I eat instead of the last thing or thing I don’t eat after reading these awesome powers of the banana.

Bananas Part 1:

Bananas Contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel better.

PMS:
Forget the pills — eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex England ) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Look for part 2 later today as there was just too much to put into one post.