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Battling Nerves On The First Date

So you've accomplished the first steps. You've set up a date, time and place with a cute new boy. You're excited, but you're very, very nervous. You may have been interested in him for some time now and you can't believe you're actually going to get the chance to sit down with him for dinner.

I don't blame you for being nervous - it's natural, just remember to keep breathing. The anticipation of a first date can be absolutely daunting - but exhilarating. But if you're anything like me when it comes to wanting to make a good first impression on a date, you've spent a lot of time getting ready. Perhaps your bedroom floor looks a tornado has made it its war path. You've exhausted every possible option in your closet, and yet nothing seems to fit just right. But finally, the fashion gods descend upon you and you've found the best option. You’ve got this step-down.

Now comes the actual date.

A great thing to keep in mind when choosing a restaurant to go to is to go to one you’re familiar with. By being in surrounding that you’re used to it allows you to be more at ease. Your mind isn’t taking in the new stimuli. There isn’t that moment of the unknown. Also, by choosing somewhere you’re familiar with, it also allows you to have prior knowledge of what to order from the menu. We’ve all been there. We’re on a date with a serious case of sweaty palms going on, the heart is beating so loud you think that the waitress must surely hear it. When you can hardly form actual words, it’s even more difficult to look through a menu with endless options. So perhaps this is something to keep in mind in the stages of pre-date development. Even if you don’t go to a restaurant you know, you’re still able to utilize everyone’s trusty friend, Google, and pick out the perfect meal on their online menu.

This leads me to my next point when you’re actually on the date, your food arrives and you just simply can’t eat it. This has been a common phenomenon for women for a very long time. Despite being hungry, there is this inability to eat in front of a guy, and despite knowing how silly it is, it can be hard to bring yourself to eat.

For some, the chewing seems to take ten times as long as a non-date meal. Why is this? Perhaps some women are experiencing a deep form of patriarchal oppression hitting them, stunning their appetite (I kid). Or perhaps some women feel as though they have to fit a certain mold, and be a woman who doesn’t eat much (since being thin is such a valued virtue in society - ugh).

Here a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to eating in front of a guy:

1. Don't Order the Healthiest Thing on the Menu If you don't normally eat a kale salad, now is not the time to start. Be you, not the person you think he wants you to be. If you want to eat a double bacon cheeseburger and fries, you order that instead. Trust me, he might even think that's the hottest thing he's seen, especially if you finish off every last bite and still have room for dessert.

For more info visit Battling Nerves On The First Date.

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Are you worthy of love?

Many people will say this popular saying that “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” However true that saying may be, it also can be about people too. People judge other people ALL the time, whether consciously or not. So for example, if someone were to want to go out on a date with someone else and the judgment was made that the other person isn’t a good fit, then that other person will have no choice but to prove their worth. This article is all about reasons why you should give them the chance to do so.

1. You don’t know what you don’t know. A couple of years ago I took a communications class and my professor said this, which I didn't understand at first, but now I do. You can try to understand everything, but you can never understand the things that you have not discovered. Imagine all those best foodie blogs that exist that you are now subscribed to. How did you find them? How did you even know that they were the best foodie blogs? This made me want to discover more and more about the world as I uncovered things I didn’t know about before.

The same can be true for people and their worth. You never know their perspective on life, so you may end up making judgments about them based off of what you know to be true about life. Even what I just wrote may be a judgment that you don’t agree with and I may need to prove my worth that I know something in order to feel valid somehow to you. There are so many things in life that we just don’t know about or understand, and people will have to continuously try to make sense of it all so that they feel valid in what they are doing as well. This is also why it is important to go out on multiple dates with someone before you turn them away as unfit to date. Perhaps it was you all along who was unfit to date...

2. Change is the only constant in life. This ties in with my earlier point because circumstances change, people change, places change, even opinions change. How is anyone supposed to go about their life wanting to date when they need to be aware of everything?

The answer is to grasp onto the idea that everything you see and know is changeable. This is beneficial to be able to prove your worth because perhaps the next chance you get will help you secure a date you weren’t expecting earlier had things remained the same.

However, that same date could be uninterested in getting to know you, so you will have no choice but to prove your worth, and the other person should be willing to grant you that time and time again until it is agreed upon that you both either like each other or not.

Visit Are you worthy of love for more info.

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Are You Thinking Of Dieting Whilst On A Date?

By now, most of us have been brainwashed with the newest health and wellness Netflix documentary, ‘What the Health’. The claims and health discoveries addressed in the documentary took the social media world by storm and now has everyone vowing to become devote vegans and health aficionados.

Even if you are a late comer to the new wave of diet control, I’m sure some other health ministry has influenced your grocery shopping for the better. And why not, proper nutrition and diet maintenance is important.

According to Mercola.com, a website dedicated to creating healthy individuals and run by Medical doctor Joseph Mercola, “People who ate a diet focused on macaroni and cheese, processed lunch meat, sausage biscuits, mayonnaise, and microwavable meals with unhealthy fats, for example, showed serious negative changes to their metabolism after just five days.” Luckily, “The good news is that eating a healthy meal helps your body return to its normal, optimal state, even after just one. James O'Keefe of the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri told TIME.”

The goal is simply to learn how to balance out our diets and keep the unhealthy food to a minimum. The difficult part of a proper diet is being consistent and disciplining your urges to indulge in delectable Honeybuns microwaved and then smothered in chocolate sauce every time you receive a compliment or hear the ever so smile induced, “Hey, good looking.” Now, it is not uncommon for one to be on their best behavior on first dates. I’ve heard of individuals who only drink water with two lemon wedges and order sorry iceberg lettuce disguised under the name house salad, in which they spritz the smallest amount of low sodium salad dressing, and I have to wince at their deprived taste buds. And I get it, first dates can be rather nerve racking, but unless you are on a date with your CrossFit instructor, I highly doubt your meal would be impressive or win you points on your dates coolness scale.

So how can you stay true to your diet and not threaten your date with bland appetite? The answer, my friend, is versatility.

Tasty, healthy food and dating can go hand-in hand. For example, if your date is bold enough to suggest a brunch date (which barely gives me enough time to wake up and dazzle with my “I Woke Up Like This” morning beauty), then you’re already in a good spot. With brunch, you are privy to not just one section of the menu, but two, and this means you have a wider variety of tastiness to choose from.

To know more about Are You Thinking Of Dieting Whilst On A Date? click here.

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Top Six Dating Apps For Foodies!

Dating apps are fun and low-pressure ways to meet other people. Apps like Tinder and online sites like Match.com have grown in popularity because of their ease of use – meet other singles without leaving the comfort of your home? Sounds like a great idea!

If you’re a foodie or someone with a special dietary concern though, these apps might come in handy the next time you’re feeling ready to mingle.

1. Dine Advertised as a dating app “that isn't about superficial love at first sight, but an opportunity to experience someone's company and a new culinary adventure,” Dine is a free to use app which currently is available for the iPhone and coming soon for the Android. The instructions are simple – sign up, meet new people daily, send them a request to dine, and if they accept your request, you pick a time and place to meet and eat!

There’s no awkward messaging back and forth, no struggling with being consistently charming, and most importantly, no hitting up random bars and restaurants to find a suitable mate.

Plus, Dine matches based on similar food preferences, which is a major plus.

The PROS: The first benefit of Dine is that it has an app available for the iPhone. It also builds a dating pool based on your interest in restaurants, which is cool.

Through your mutual interest, the app pretty much picks the location for your first date. The app wants you to build a pool so they can show you people that you’re more likely to date to “swipe through.”

One of the other pros is that women can interact for free while men can not, which is a common premise of many of the female-friendly applications used.

The CONS: Unfortunately, your profile only actually covers the basic info like height and weight and then there’s a freeform part where you describe yourself.

Also, you can only swipe through 5 profiles a day or else you have to spend roses (which are essentially tokens to get more swipes for the day.

There aren’t a lot of opportunity for matches if you have a limited number of swipes. That said, they give you some roses just for signing up and completing a profile.

You also only get to choose three restaurants that you like in your area, which limits your dating pool as well.

2. Gluten-Free Singles Skip the struggle of finding someone with similar dietary needs and join Gluten-Free Singles.

Described as “a dating, networking, and informative website where you never have to feel alone, awkward, or a burden because you are gluten-free,”

Gluten-Free Singles is not an app, but an online community where people who are gluten-free for health and fitness reasons or dietary needs can talk exclusively to other gluten-free singles.

To sign up, all you need is an e-mail address and a photo.

The PROS: This dating site doesn’t have a mobile app, which is kind of a hassle for on the use.

There is a section in the profile where you describe what you’re looking for and the app’s minimum age requirement is 18.

You also have the opportunity to express why you’re going Gluten-Free, which can be helpful for people who might specifically be looking for someone like them – for instance, if you can’t eat Gluten because you have an intolerance, you might prefer to be with someone who also has an intolerance or Celiac’s disease rather than someone who is Gluten-Free by choice.

The CONS: The app does more than just connect users on a romantic or platonic level, it also hosts events, posts recipes, and recommends producers and services. The profile doesn’t have a lot of information on it.

3. HiDine “Chivalry is alive” – that’s the slogan for this fast paced dating app.

HiDine is an application where you can swipe through profiles for people and restaurants in your area to both form your interests and develop connections with singles looking to find a dining partner.

While the application is free, men are required to put a down payment on the restaurant bill before any offline activities can occur.

The PROS: One pro for HiDine is that it has a user-friendly mobile app. The second pro is that it’s incredibly easy to use and straightforward.

The CONS: This is another app that makes you login with Facebook, which to me, is a major drawback.

The app is also kind of a rip off of Tinder – the color scheme is similar, the formatting is similar, the app is essentially Tinder for food.

The app also has a sexist premise – “At HiDine, we believe in old-fashioned chivalry. Men pay for first dates.

You spend enough time and money on clothes, shoes, hair styling, and beauty products. Before you even sit down at the table with a guy, you have invested in the date to look your best.

Any man should appreciate that. And the last thing you should worry about is who is going to pick up the bill” -and though there’s a section where you can state your interest, by nature, the app is not congruent with same sex partnerships.

“Our male members pick up the tab, so you can focus on being the naturally charming person you are, no strings attached.”

That sounds just a little heteronormative to me. The app also links you to the closest city to you. For instance, from my home in New Jersey, I was swiping through people and restaurants in New York City, which is about 45 minutes to an hour from me.

Click here to know more about Top Six Dating Apps For Foodies!

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Are Food Supplements Necessary?

Year in year out, people spend billions of dollars on dietary supplements and vitamins. Supplements are believed to be effective in preserving or restoring good health, but the question arises whether nutritional supplements are essential. If one's diet is well balanced and healthy, it should provide all the necessary nutrients, right? However, if the food is wanting, it may be necessary to derive some nutrients from supplements because they can fill the nutritional gaps.

One school of thought that proposes the importance of food supplements is by some medical nutritionists and professionals. They argue that the intake of fruits and vegetables among many people is not sufficient. People have taken to eating processed foods, which contain minimal or useless nutrients.

Older adults and pregnant women need more vitamins than they can get from the food they consume. These professionals also argue that the soil in which food is grown lacks essential minerals.

On the other hand, there is a school of thought that suggests that supplements can be a source of horror stories. A 2017 study available in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that if vitamin B6 and B12 supplements are taken in high doses, they stand the chance of tripling the risk of lung cancer. There are concerns that vitamin B supplements have a link to some cancers, according to the report of the study. Generally, there is so much hype about taking supplements, a little more than is necessary. But first things first;

The Benefits of Food Supplements Supplements do not fix all dietary problems, but they sure do play a significant role in filling the nutritional gap that modern day-to-day diets create. Multiple-vitamin supplements contain small amounts of each vitamin, making them an excellent source of essential micronutrients for your body.

Some supplements are sold as individual vitamins, and typically have more substantial amounts of nutrients than multivitamins. You can choose the ones you need depending on the deficiency you want to deal with, or risk factors that pose a threat to your health. For example, you can choose an iron supplement to give a boost to your red blood cells or folic acid during pregnancy to reduce the risk of congenital disability called spina bifida.

Science has proven that the benefits of using supplements cannot be ignored; especially when they are used for specific health conditions. In some cases, however, the benefits have not been backed up by research.

Read more about Are Food Supplements Really Necessary here.

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Are Dating Apps Racist?

Dating apps like Tinder are supposed to help people find that special someone. However, some people have trouble finding love because of prejudice. Are some apps letting racism take over their sites?

Though dating apps will accept any person's profile, some people who try interracial dating find matches that are themselves racist. Ari Curtis, an African-American woman, explained her experiences with prejudiced White men.

Some explicitly told her that her family wouldn't approve of her because she's Black. Another man told her that she wasn't "ghetto" enough for him. Curtis feels that though people have the right to their personal preferences, she feels that may stem from unconscious prejudice.

"I feel like there is room, honestly, to say, 'I have a preference for somebody who looks like this.' And if that person happens to be of a certain race, it's hard to blame somebody for that," Curtis says. "But on the other hand, you have to wonder: If racism weren't so ingrained in our culture, would they have those preferences?"Curtis told NPR. Unfortunately, a study found that Curtis's experiences are all too common.

"There is kind of a systemic racial bias pretty much in every dating site I’ve ever looked at,” noted Christian Rudder, co-founder of OK Cupid. “We found that 82 percent of non-black men have some bias against black women… And Asian men get the fewest messages and the worst ratings of any group of guys.”

If there is subtle bias on heterosexual dating sites, on LGBT sites, racism is much more blatant. Jason, a gay Filpino man, has encountered many men that told him that they don't usually date Asian men in messages on dating sites like Grindr.

"It was really disheartening," he told NPR. "It really hurt my self-esteem."

There may be deeper reasons why African-American women and Asian men have trouble making matches on dating apps.

For more info visit Are Dating Apps Racist?

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Anniversary Gifts for your Lovely Wife

It’s that time of year again, the time where you find yourself searching for the best gift with no idea where to start. No, it’s not Christmas, it’s the other valuable time of the year: Your Anniversary...

Anniversaries have been commonly associated with elevated levels of stress, intentional “forgetfulness” and secret hopes that the other person forgets it’s existence. If you find yourself in any of these bubbles don’t worry, here are some ideas that will help you get started with finding the perfect way to express your love.

If your Wife/Partner Favors Tradition

There is a common list you can follow based on the number of years you have been together. Some Ideas From the List: 1st Year: Paper Gifts: this can include but is not limited to money, a long love letter or handwritten poems.

2nd Year: Cotton Gifts can include t-shirts, bathrobes, towels. If you feel that this idea is too simple you can have a personalized message stitched on to the gift.

3rd Year: Leather Gifts should be easy but if you cannot decide perhaps a nice leather designer bag or a coat should suffice.

The list provides ideas as far as 60 year Anniversary and includes modern ideas. You can find more information at:

https://ideas.hallmark.com

If Your Wife/Partner Likes Romance

It may seem obvious or easy to arrange a romantic dinner BUT remember that your anniversary should include special gestures that may not happen otherwise. So, yes, you can arrange for a romantic dinner, but be sure to add in something extra that says, “you’re special and I am happy we’re still committed to each other”.

Some anniversary date ideas to kick it up a notch:

Arrange for a couples cooking session, if you can, privatize this experience to make this event all the more special. Do you Live in New York City? Some places to try are Tache Artisan Chocolate or Date Night at the Brooklyn Kitchen.

You can also try a Paint and Sip venue or bring one to you. While this may not seem romantic initially, it can be an intimate experience that takes the weight of being serious off your shoulders. It also leaves the entertaining up to the hosts at the venue. You can check, Groupon, Living Social or Eventbrite for the locations nearest you and the best deals.

Visit Anniversary Gifts for your Wife for more info.

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America's top cities for foodies in 2017

One of the coolest aspects of time is that nothing ever stays the same. Fashions change, education evolves, and society adapts to the ever-changing whims, wants, and wonders of human beings. Though traditional dishes recipes are passed down through generations, food is still prone to revolutions and alterations.

In 2015, the food craze was undoubtedly the mighty superfood, avocado. People smeared it on everything from wheat toast to Angus burgers. In 2016, oatmeal went from the greyish-beige bland morning meal to an overnight sensation mixed with nut butters and milks.

This year, the new food trend is little-to-no-alcohol drinks like "mocktails." I don’t know if I’ll be joining this bandwagon, but what I do know is as a lover of good eats, I always want to know what’s happening on the food scene.

Certain cities are known to stay abreast of the culinary movements that take the nation by storm. Below are some of the top foodie destinations to help you expand your palate this year. New Orleans, Louisiana The star of the Louisiana bayou is a great starting point since there is no other region or state in the US that can claim to the Cajun and Creole-style dishes this community is known to produce. Jambalaya, Gumbo, Andouille, Crawfish Étouffée, Po’ Boy sandwiches, Banana's Foster, Beignets, and Turtle soup are all infamous Louisiana dishes The food itself is just as distinctive as the names. The city of New Orleans has a dialect, lifestyle, and heritage so rich and honored, and it is definitely preserved and displayed through its culinary delicacies. This city will continue to be a prime food destination for years to come.

Miami, Florida With its beautiful sandy beaches, its booming cultural nightlife scene, its art district, and diverse ethnic population, Miami is a prime tourist destination. The houses are flamboyant in color the locals, tan and clad in Ray Ban aviators, are just as vibrant.

Take a stroll down South Beach, and you will find menus filled with international cuisine. Peruvian, Cuban, Italian, Haitian, and Japanese fill the lively Collins Avenue. Miami's diverse food options make it the ultimate food desination for any taste bud.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Oh Philly! You have blessed the nation with your scrumptiously delicious cheesesteaks and cushioned our bites with your soft pretzel, and for that we will be forever grateful. Still, the city of brotherly love keeps giving.

As one of the most historically relevant cities in our nation, Philadelphia is bustling with sightseers eager to view the foregrounds housing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Liberty Bell.

Several blocks from Independence Hall is the historic and mouthwatering foodie spot, Reading Terminal Market. The informal outdoor markets formed in 1680 by farmers and fisherman who brought their goods from southern New Jersey. Today, the terminal is still the gastronomic bazaar of the city as more than 80 merchants sell local produce, Amish baked goods, roast beef and pizza among other cuisines

Austin, Texas The phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” undoubtedly applies to its food scene. For starters, the Tejanos - Texans of Spanish or Mexican heritage -contribute a cuisine of blended Mexican and South American food, or "Tex-Mex."

Tex-Mex is known to contain shredded cheese, meat (particularly beef and pork), beans, spices and addition to flour tortillas. Infamous menu items include Texas-style chili con carne, burritos, nachos, hard tacos, fajitas and chimichangas.

The city of Austin is known for its comforting barbequed meats. Located in the south-central region of Texas, Austin’s signature BBQ style is barbacoa, which is cooked low and slow over indirect heat. The final reason to eat in this city is for its robust food truck. Austin’s park-and-eat experience is like no other in the nation.

To know more about America's top cities for foodies in 2017 click here.

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Active Dating Tips That Still Offer a Touch of Romance

Going on a date doesn’t have to be boring and yet at the same time, you still want to have some romantic elements to your date, even if you are aiming for a more active approach to your dating. While some people might not want to take on anything too strenuous early on in a relationship, there is nothing wrong with adding some action to your dating life.

A great date idea for a more active couple might include a hike and depending on where you live, you might have some great hiking opportunities.

If you properly plan your hike, you could have a destination in mind such as a waterfall, a canyon, or even overlooking a valley. These stops could be a great place to do more than just enjoy the scenery, they can be a great place to stop and talk as well. Not only does hiking bring some exercise benefits to the date, but if you pack a meal, you can even find a spot, such as that beautiful waterfall or near a stream, to picnic and chat while also enjoying the scenery. If you live near the water and have a place that offers activities such as snorkeling, this could be a great active date. Not only would you get to spend time together, but you also get to explore under the water and share what you find with each other.

Another water activity that will also offer a solid workout is kayaking. Whether you choose to go in an individual kayak or do partner kayaking in a two person vessel, this activity is a serious workout that will also help you build communication. If you choose to do partner kayaking, then you have to talk to each and work together in order to coordinate your strokes and stay on course.

Even if you each take your own kayaks out together, there is still communication that is needed so that you stay together and have a good time. Not only will this activity give you a chance to enjoy an active date, but it also gets you out on the water together.

An active date does not necessarily have to include exercise either. If you are looking for something both romantic and engaging, you might want to take a boat out at night for some night fishing. Not only does this offer a chance to be on the water at night, but it also gives you a chance to test your fishing abilities or show your partner your skills with a fishing pole. Of course, there is also the day time option as well, which can be just as fun and if you pack some food and wine, you can even take a break for a picnic by the water or if you are on a boat, in the middle of the water.

Gardening is another unique date idea that offers a chance to get dirty and be outdoors. For many people, gardening can be a relaxing experience and offers a sense of peace as you get the chance to play in the soil and plant something that will have a chance to grow. This date idea also has long term effects as you can watch what you planted together grow over time.

Click here to know more about Active Dating Ideas That Still Offer a Touch of Romance.

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A Date in the City: Detroit

Detroit: the birthplace of Eminem and the American auto industry, the city that inspired and shaped the rise of jazz, hip-hop, and rock & roll, and the oftentimes misunderstood little brother of last week’s featured spot, Chicago.

This city’s name carries more preconceptions than perhaps any other American city, but Detroit is in the process of shedding its skin and blossoming into a proper metropolis for all things music, sports, and entertainment. As Detroit moves away from its rough-and-tough image, there’s no better time to explore this city and all that it has to offer.

It’s worth noting that the food and entertainment gems of Detroit are not limited to just the downtown Detroit area. Like New York City, this city sprawls across a number of little borough-like towns and counties. From Royal Oak to Ann Arbor to the proper suburbs, there is no dearth of new locales to explore here.

For brunch, this city offers up an overwhelming number of options, scattered all across the ‘metropolitan-Detroit’ area, as it is referred to by the natives. While here, I managed to hit up two unbelievable spots for brunch. I can say from experience that Detroit truly knows how to do brunch.

Our first spot, The Dime Store, is named after the ‘dime stores’ of old. Back in the early days of Detroit’s metropolitan youth, there were stores wherein everything was sold for just a dime, or so the legend goes. While the food at The Dime Store was certainly a bit above that price range, the extra coinage was more than worth it. Their brunch fare spans the spectrum of sweet to savory-from brioche French toast to duck leg hash (with bulgogi)-and everything in between. On top of the unbelievable flavor profiles, The Dime Store serves up Zingerman’s Coffee-a metro-Detroit staple, based out of Ann Arbor. Being the complete coffee fiend that I am, I’m still dreaming about the iced latte I had here.

Looking for something a little more high-end? You need a brunch spot worthy of your sundress and platform heels after all. Try Parc located on Campus Martius, right in the center of downtown Detroit. This sleek, standalone building exudes class, and their Bloody Mary and mimosa bar seal the deal. With an assortment ranging from oysters to Croque Madame to an exquisite pancetta & egg poutine, you’ll feel as though you’re seated right on the Seine enjoying a lavish brunch in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Instead of the Seine, however, you get live music, a huge variety of people, and the Detroit River just two blocks away. Not such a bad exchange.

In need of a little pick-me-up? Check out the Roasting Plant, located right off of Campus Martius. Here you get joe and a show. Pick your poison and watch as the coffee beans for your chosen drink shoot through tubes spanning the store to be roasted, ground, and brewed right in front of your eyes. Their coffee is fresh to death and the tubes system is added entertainment value to be sure!

Up late and need a coffee fix? Atomic Coffee in Royal Oak has you covered. I stumbled upon this coffee shop around 11:20 pm. To my surprise, the shop was hopping with patrons-working, studying, and just enjoying a nightcap latte and some good conversation. Atomic Coffee is open till midnight for all my night owls, and they boast a huge drinks and cafe-style food menu. With four different types of nitro cold brew on tap and latte flavors the likes of cardamom-rose, there’s something for everyone here. Know more about A Date in the City: Detroit.

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A Date in the City: Chicago

To kick off week two of our newest series A Date in the City, we’re going just a hop, skip, and a jump away from New York City to its unofficial little sister: Chicago. The hub of all things Midwestern and home to one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan city centers in America, Chicago is the place to be for a low-key day in the city.

Now, of course, Chicago like any other big city, has a reputation which precedes it. For Chi-town, this reputation consists of deep, deeeeep dish pizza, Lake Michigan, and the Cubs. We’re here to highlight everything else this pared-down city has to offer. And it’s a lot.

Before we even get to brunch, it’s worth noting that Chicago has one of the best paths for running (or strolling) in a city. Right on Lake Michigan, go for an early morning jog on Lake Shore Drive and let the views fuel you as you prep yourself for a hearty plate of pancakes and at least a few mimosas.

For brunch, we have options, options, and more options. If you’re feeling something lighter and more laid-back, try Dove’s Luncheonette. This spot has gained a cult following, due in part to its throwback, diner style atmosphere. But what really seals the deal is their Mexican-southern fusion take on brunch. From breakfast tamales to barbacoa enchiladas, anything goes at this one-of-a-kind brunch spot. And if you’re feeling the particularly horrible after effects of a night out, try their famous “Back to Life” cocktail. I guarantee it’s not what you think. It’s so much more.

If you’re anything like me and hold the belief that brunch is the epitome of meal times, then maybe you should take brunch to the next level at Jam. This is the highest of the high-end brunch menus. Try the lamb and grits to really solidify the classiness of your morning, and let the smoked salmon keep you feeling posh all day long.

Ready for your daily caffeine fix? Try Buzz: Killer Espresso on North Damen Avenue for great espresso and an even better staff. You can tell the baristas here live and breathe coffee and are just dying to craft the perfect cup of joe for you. From your bitterness tolerance to your milk preferences to your favorite dinner spot in the city, the baristas glean it all and pour it straight into your latte with the perfect finishing flourish. And if you’re hoping to get some work done or whisper sweet nothings in a quiet corner, Buzz has two floors of space in which to spread out, isolate yourself, and enjoy your drink.

If you’re a theatre buff head over to Navy Pier’s Chicago Shakespeare Theater and catch a show of anything from King Lear to Waiting for Godot. The current flavor of William Shakes is actually Madagascar, adapted from the DreamWorks film. If you're feeling something a bit heavier--and a bit more classical--you can also catch a production of Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park. I recently got to sit in on a performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and was thoroughly blown away by the quality and integrity of the performance. As a complete Shakespeare nerd, I can guarantee that you’ll feel transported back to the Elizabethan era watching these players play.

Craving something sweet after a long and emotionally tumultuous play? Check out Snow Dragon Shavery right in Navy Pier for a macaron ice cream sandwich (pictured above), that will change your life. Prior to my trip to Chicago—and after striking out in New York City—I had thought the only place I would find a macaron ice cream sandwich would be in France, but voila! I, of course, had to pick the classic pistachio ice cream sandwich, but their flavors range from vanilla to the quintessentially Midwestern Superman, to rose. Snow Dragon Shavery also offers regular macarons, bubble tea, shaved snow, and ice cream, so stop by to fulfill all of your sweet dish dreams. Click here to know more about A Date in the City: Chicago.

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A Boba Adventure for Students in the Bay Area

As a student in the Bay Area, life is inevitably hard. School stress, endless exams, and sleep deprivation mark the everyday lives of high schoolers. With every test and assignment, it often feels like a never-ending cycle of despair and sorrow. Luckily, to my avail, I have finally found little lights lining the inside of my dark tunnel.

The one thing that can alleviate the pain while simultaneously providing a much-needed dosage of social activity between classes and homework is getting boba (otherwise known as bubble tea) with friends. Nothing acts as a better cure to a mini, recurring, 20-year premature midlife crises than tasting the soothing herbal and fruity flavors provided by freshly brewed tea and sucking the chewy tapioca balls that rest at the bottom of your cup through a thick plastic straw. Being an extremely versatile drink, buying boba is not simply a purchase- it’s an adventure.

To start off your boba adventure, you need to find out how much you are willing to invest. Prices usually range from $3 to $6 depending on where you go and what you order. Places such as Cafe Lattea, Tea Era, and Fantasia probably offer the cheapest, most standard drinks, while investing a little more at places such as the Moo Bar and Teaspoon bring a little more to the table with better aesthetics and apparently better tasting boba.

While the cheaper places do have good drinks, nothing can compare to the tumblresque paintings of happy cows on windows and walls, serving as an ideal background for instagramming your drink, or the slogan “enjoy life, one tea spoon at a time” plastered on boba cups. All in all, the more expensive drinks are more expensive for the unique experiences their stores promise. You get what you pay for.

Once you’ve chosen where you want to go, you’ve got to decide what tea and flavors you want. You can choose from milk tea or regular tea. Usually, the tea flavors will be green, black, oolong, and jasmine, and the milk will be soy, full fat, or even ice cream. Flavors are in the form of syrups that are stirred in the milk. Some places let you choose flavors from a variety of options. For example, T-Pumps has choices from raspberry to gingerbread, proving to be the perfect place for people who like to customize their order with wacky combinations. Other places have traditional pre-designed drinks for less risky taste buds, like milk foam green tea or sparkling rainbow peach from Gong Cha. Furthermore, some places spice up the appeal of their drinks by giving them fun names. A “Thai me a River” at the Moo Bar consists of Thai tea and horchata. Read more about A Boba Adventure for Students in the Bay Area.

[foodandating-blog]

Nine Ways to spend less on Recipes For Two

Whether you and your date want to spend the evening together making dinner in the kitchen or by surprising each other with an inexpensive treat, here are 9 ways to get more easy recipes for two while spending less.

1.Buy food that is not ready-made It took someone time and effort to slice, cook, bake, or prepare what you bought. For example, this can be meat, bread, cheese, fruit or vegetables. For that reason, what you bought that was ready-made may be more expensive than if you were to do all the work by yourself. By buying food that is not ready-made, you get to enjoy the experience of doing what you want with what you bought and not feeling frustrated if it didn’t look the way you wanted it to. If it turns out that both options cost the same, feel free to then buy the ready-made food.

2. Buy in bulk Whenever you notice yourself reaching for the same items over and over again, it helps to buy those items in bulk. This will also allow you to be prepared for more than one type of dish with that particular ingredient, and you will reduce the stress of needing to go out and get more of the same ingredient. Just make sure you know your limits and know if you will be able to use the ingredients before the expiration date. You never want to buy more than what you will use.

3. Use coupons and take advantage of reduced prices If you know you will need something soon and it is on sale or you have a coupon, don’t be afraid to take advantage of that opportunity. This method will help you save a lot of money in the long run and you can enjoy countless meals for two. Just be sure that you check your coupons weekly or monthly since they tend to expire quickly, and to store them someplace you won’t forget in your wallet or purse.

4. Buy seasonal items according to the season You should want to enjoy all the flavors each season brings with it and to be prepared to ask your date what they like or dislike well in advance since these seasonal flavors tend to come once a year with high demand. Fall is one of the best times of the year to enjoy a date together since you can carve pumpkins and make pumpkin pie, or go to a farm and buy caramel apples and/or enjoy a cornstalk maze together. Since many people will want to enjoy the same experience, the price may go down too, and not much is better than seeing your date’s face light up as you both have a good time together.

5. Find a recipe book for healthy cooking and baking ideas This is especially helpful if you and your date live together. You and your date can browse through recipes for ideas on what to make for every meal you decide to share together and it will cut the cost of the need to go out for a meal as well. It will also give you a glimpse of what each of you prefers. If time is cut short and you know what either of you is making, you can go ahead and make it early. This will surprise your date with your ability to cook, and will make for a good conversation when the two of you meet. Know more about Nine Ways to spend less on Recipes For Two.