Monthly Archives: August 2011

Savvy Vacation Diet Tips, Lesson 2

We all want to kick back, relax and fully enjoy our hard-earned vacation time but unpacking and returning to work are hard enough without extra pounds and tighter pants with which to contend. With these tips, you will feel proud and healthy and, we think, have an even more spectacular trip.     LESSON 2:HAVE YOUR CAKE, BUT SAVE SOME FOR THE OTHER TOURISTS.   Embrace your locale Eat fresh and local. If you are by the ocean indulge in the fresh seafood. Try to find a farmer’s market and eat local produce. Not only will these be healthier choices, they will also contribute to your total vacation experience.     Plan ahead Bring healthy snacks to keep in your hotel room – granola bars, fruit, veggies and whole grain snacks are good choices to fill you up and prevent an unhealthy binge later. Plus the foods will save you a few dollars, dollars certainly better spent hitting the local retail shops. Check menus when not hungry and find some good fast food choices or gas station snacks so you’re knowledgeable during road trips. If you know where you are going to eat at night, take the time to check … read more

Going Green in 3 Steps

We know you most likely would like to go green, but spending extra money or extra time, especially in a down economy probably doesn’t seem very feasible right now. So we’ve listed three simple ways you can go green but still make a big impact.     Check light bulb packaging for the ENERGY STAR logo Not all light bulbs are approved to carry the ENERGY STAR logo. A product with this logo has passed stringent guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These ultra-efficient light bulbs help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, bonus, save you lots of money in energy costs each year! Purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products Although they may not be as readily available, they do exist and are becoming more popular. Contact your local health food store and ask about safe, natural and non-toxic cleaning products. A few of our favorites are Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Products. Also, consider home remedies like a mix of plain white vinegar and water to wash your floor, rugs, bathrooms and kitchen counters. Buy a cloth bag Not only do cloth bags save rivers and trees, but they can be really cute! Snag a couple of cloth … read more

Keep the Drink, Cut the Calories

Simple changes to help avoid those holiday pounds! The holidays are almost here, complete with the seasonal indulgences of cakes, cookies and all of the trimmings. While many health-conscious people take notice of how many calories they are taking in while eating these foods, few people stop to consider what they are drinking. Holiday cocktails such as egg nog, hot chocolate and spiced cider are some of the biggest culprits of extra – and almost hidden – calories during the holiday season. Before you put down your drink for something less flavorful, try some of these small changes that can make a big difference in preventing those holiday pounds.     Hot Chocolate with Irish Cream Hot chocolate is one of the more traditional cold-weather drinks around. When mixed with whole milk and Irish cream on the holidays, it can add up to more than 375 calories. Try cutting those calories in half by using skim milk and coffee in your recipe instead of whole milk, leaving room for the extra calories from the Irish cream. 1/2 cup skim milk ½ cup coffee 1 packet hot chocolate mix 1 shot Irish Cream Brew coffee Mix 1 packet of hot chocolate … read more

Gentlemen, Summer purchases that won’t break the bank and we just had to share.

    Swimming trunks: At the swimming pool or the beach, be stylish but still know you’re a spendthrift with the Scenic Print or the Hibiscus board shorts, both for $19.50 at Old Navy. Shirts: Try a nautical stripe or rugby stripe polo shirt for 19.94 at Old Navy Sunglasses: Sunglass lovers should check-out Loewen aviators or Ran-Ban style spectacles like Melecio. Both sunglasses go for $12 at Aldo. Shoes: Out for a day of fun in the sun? Try a fabric loafer like Rarden for $20 at Aldo. Shorts: Be cool and comfortable in a pair of shorts like the Expedition Cargo Shorts for $19.99 at Target.

Dress Like a Royal – for Less

We thought the royal hubbub would die down after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton but we admit, Kate’s fashion sense has us glued to our laptops, hungry for images of her look. And her sister ain’t so bad either.     The hottie sister, Pippa MiddletonImage courtesy of Wenn.com To get their looks for less, Amour Creole has hunted around for some royally great look-alikes. Now we can at least pretend to be princesses.   Pick up this pale green dress from Debenhams.com for $58 and the Rampage “Juliet” Snake embossed faux leather envelope clutch at Nordstrom.com for $68.   This clutch is a fraction of the cost of purchasing Pippas’s handbag   Get Kate’s look for less with this dress   Pippa’s look, for the most part, is surprisingly not that expensive. To snag the look: 7 For All Mankind “cooper” jeans $62.99, L.K. Bennett “Annina” Bag $398 and Lauren By Ralph Lauren “Aaronessa” shirt $35. For the budget conscious woman try the B.P. “Prissy” flats for $26.90 and instead of dropping $398 for the Annina try this pink ruched handbag for $51.65.

Mother of ten retires after three decades of work in Haiti

Her work started with one rural clinic, now her organization serves 55,000 patients Nannette Canniff was in her 40s, a housewife and mother of ten living in the projects of Quincy, Mass. when she traveled to Haiti for the first time. Her life changed forever. She raised money for that first trip through a charity walk for hunger, and when she landed in Haiti she was overwhelmed by extreme poverty she witnessed. So she did something about it.     Canniff cofounded the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation along with Quincy based Reverend Jerry Osterman. SBHF started out small in the isolated, rural town of Fond-des-Blancs in Haiti’s southern peninsula. Now Canniff retires as President and CEO of a non-governmental organization that serves more than 55,000 patients a year through a hospital and network of mobile clinics in rural Haiti.   SBHF builds schools, provides tuition for hundreds of students, vaccinates thousands of children and oversees a roster of community development programs aimed at empowering local people and building communities.   “Our philosophy from the very beginning has been to work with and include the community in everything we do. Nothing is done without their approval. The people really and truly … read more

The Miami wealthy party for Haiti

While some were gathering fireworks for the July 4 holiday, wealthy real estate developer Thomas Kramer was gathering sponsors and prepping his Miami mansion for a party to benefit Haiti.     On July 4, Kramer opened the doors, or more accurately, the gates to his Star Island home where neighbors include Gloria Estefan, P Diddy, Will Smith, Rosie O’Donnell, Shaquille O’Neal and Madonna.  

Ladies, A few great summer purchases that won’t break the bank and we just had to share.

      Razor: Tired of wasting money on disposable razors? Invest in the Close Curves Wet/Dry Ladies Shaver for $19.98 at Target.Going to the beach? Don a wide-brim hat for only $12.80 at Foerver 21.   Sunglasses: If you want to stay fashionable on budget, check-out cat eye frames like Brundin for $12.00 or a Ray-Ban look-alike like Sachez, both from Aldo.   Sandals: Try a basic pair with a bit of flair like Bamboo Pumpkin 77 Black Woven for $20.00 at Lulus.com.   Facial Cleanser: Freshen up quickly during steamy summer months with the Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths for $20 at Sephora.

Feather Frenzy

If you haven’t noticed, feathers have been the new “je ne sais quoi” piece that gives a dull outfit the bam that it needs. Top design houses such as Chanel, Pringle of Scotland and Nina Ricci have added feathers to their newest creations and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore and Jessica Biel have joined in the feather frenzy. So, if you can’t beat them, join in on the fun. Here are some choice items that we thought you would love to add to your wardrobe.     Knotted Feather Necklace $8.80at Forever 21 Beaded and Feathers Necklace $6.80at Forever 21 Feather Drop Earrings $4.80 at Forever 21