“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” — Tom Bodett (via selfinspiration)
(Source: corona-borealis, via pearandplum)
“Calcium supplements, long recommended for stronger bones, may be bad for the heart, a large new study confirms. The study found that taking extra calcium may raise the risk of a heart attack.” — Taking Calcium May Pose Heart Risks - NYTimes.com
Super tempted by this chair, made of 100% recycled plastic. (via Adirondack chair - Recycled Plastic Muskoka Chairs | Boutique Cascades | Canada)
My write-up on Toronto’s Square Snacks (via Hip to Be Square | Vitamin Daily)
You don’t need to be a meteorologist to know this is gin-and-tonic weather. And when it comes to gins and tonic, the difference between “ahh!” and “ahhhh!” is two h’s and Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters. I bought mine at McEwan in The Shops at Don Mills, though they also sell them at a shop on Roncey whose name escapes me at the moment.
They also sell them at BYOB on Queen West, in many, many flavours. My G&T yesterday was made with tasty blueberry liqueur from Ironworks in Nova Scotia.
Kayaking is always one of my favourite things to do while travelling (see recent trips to Florida and New Zealand), as is seeing cities from the water. (If you ever go to Moscow, take a river tour; St. Petersburg, take the hydrofoil to Peterhof.)
So when I saw this half-day kayaking tour of Stockholm, I got a little excited. Sweden’s on my wish list too, and when I finally make it there, I’ll definitely be touring the waterways to get a different view of the city and burn off some of whatever food I’m likely to get addicted to during the trip.
Photo credit: Henrik Trygg/Stockholm Visitors Board
Chelsea Market, NYC
You know when you’re trying to get work done, and then all of a sudden you’re putting blueberry-yogurt-honey Popsicles in the freezer? (Taken with instagram)
“Seniors who lifted weights or did other forms of resistance training slowed their decline to full-blown dementia, a study including B.C. researchers has found.” — Weight training staves off dementia in older women - Health - CBC News
Next time you’re offered fresh ground pepper at a restaurant, make sure to say yes: a new study shows that piperine, the compound in black pepper that gives it its flavour, can block the formation of new fat cells.
Plus, it tastes good. I used tons of black pepper in this asparagus tart recipe from Joy the Baker that I made for lunch today. Unfortunately the delicious puff pastry probably overrode the fat-fighting effects of the pepper, but they were certainly tasty.
Look what just came in the mail! Can’t wait to make my own People’s Pops. (Taken with instagram)
“Sunscreens prevent sunburns, but beyond that simple fact surprisingly little is known about the safety and efficacy of these ubiquitous creams and sprays.” — Where Do You Stand On Sunscreen? : No More Dirty Looks
Sunset over the Saint John river, Fredericton, New Brunswick
(via Peanut Power Balls | Recipes | Eat Well | Best Health)
Think commercial sports drinks are good for you? Well, not only are they pretty much well-branded sugar water, but a new study is implicating them for irreversibly damaging teeth, too.
According to the report, acidity levels in some drinks studied are so high that they caused tooth damage in experiments in just five days. (The experiment involved immersing tooth enamel in the drinks for 15 minutes and then in saliva for two hours, repeated four times daily.)
The truth is, unless you’re a pretty hardcore athlete, you don’t need what sports drinks are trying to give you – and even worse, you’re downing enough calories to negate what you’ve burned. Instead, just have some water (mix sparkling with some real fruit juice if you really need a treat) and a light snack, and for light workouts, just have water and wait for your next meal. And if you must drink sports drinks, make sure to rinse your mouth with water afterward to clean off your teeth.