5 Best cities for a Christmas vacation

 if your family likes to celebrate the holidays at a new place every year, why not suggest one of these festive wonderlands for your Christmas getaway? Each of these cities knows how to do Christmas with festivals, giant trees, parades and decorations galore, so you'll never feel out of the holiday spirit. If you plan on traveling, book your tickets and rooms now since these are serious hot spots!

 

 

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is magical during the holidays. Back Bay streets are lined with festive Christmas lights, the Faneuil Hall tree glitters with hundreds of ornaments and Beacon Hill's cobblestone streets glisten under a soft dusting of snow. In addition to the sights, there are a ton of seasonal things to do. If you can, grab a sitter and catch the Slutcracker show, a burlesque parody of the Nutcracker, which runs from Dec. 2-24. For a more family-friendly event, visit Boston's Symphony Hall for the Holiday Pops, where the Boston Pop's play holiday tunes and narrate " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Park City, Utah

Park City sees up to 40 inches of snowfall every holiday season, so you're sure to experience a white Christmas there. If skiing and snowboarding are your thing, check out one of the three resorts in town: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, and The Canyons. If you'd rather watch, grab tickets to the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding and Freeskiing Grand Prix which takes place at Park City Mountain Resort Dec. 21-22. If shopping is more your speed, take a stroll down the hip-and-funky Main Street, which houses more than 100 unique shops and is lit up with multicolored Christmas lights. For a unique take on A Christmas Carol, head to the Egyptian Theatre, which has a live radio broadcast of the story!
 

Leavenworth, Washington

This cozy town is a spitting image of Bavaria in the middle of Washington state with German and Bavarian-themed homes, shops, restaurants and hotels. What they are known for, besides their adorably themed village, are their festivals. The Christmas Lighting Festival is one of their largest and takes place on three weekends in December. During the festival, the town lights up in multicolored Christmas lights and townspeople dress as holiday characters. There is live entertainment all day, Bavarian food and holiday sweets as well as roasted chestnuts and a tree lighting ceremony. While you are there, check out the Leavenworth Summer Theater's production of A Christmas Carol.

Edinburgh, Scotland

This ancient Scottish town lights up during the holidays, literally, with a breathtaking fireworks display each year out of the Edinburgh castle. In addition to fireworks, hundreds of bagpipers surround the Sir Walter Scott Monument every Christmas to play "Amazing Grace." The city comes alive for six weeks, which makes it one the best places to spend Christmas in the U.K. Pick up some last-minute gifts at the renowned German Christmas Market and then strap on your ice skates to go skating in Europe's largest open-air skating rink at the Winter Wonderland in Princes street Gardens. You also can't miss the St. Giles' Cathedral Choir's annual concert in Parliament Square.

 

Montreal, Canada

If you're dreaming of Paris this Christmas, but it's out of your price range (or don't want the jet-lag), visit the French-Canadian city of Montreal instead! The city has multiple outdoor ice skating rinks that are lit up with holiday lights. One of the best for families is the Patinoire du Bassin Bonsecours in Old Montreal. Your kids won't want to miss the Santa Claus Parade, a Montreal holiday tradition since 1925, which kicks off at Ste. Catherine Street. Another family-favorite activity is the Montreal Christmas fireworks, which go off every Saturday in December at the Old Port. Don't forget to pick up last minute gifts at one of the three great Montreal Cristmas Markets.

 

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is magical during the holidays. Back Bay streets are lined with festive Christmas lights, the Faneuil Hall tree glitters with hundreds of ornaments and Beacon Hill's cobblestone streets glisten under a soft dusting of snow. In addition to the sights, there are a ton of seasonal things to do. If you can, grab a sitter and catch the Slutcracker show, a burlesque parody of the Nutcracker, which runs from Dec. 2-24. For a more family-friendly event, visit Boston's Symphony Hall for the Holiday Pops, where the Boston Pop's play holiday tunes and narrate " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Park City, Utah

Park City sees up to 40 inches of snowfall every holiday season, so you're sure to experience a white Christmas there. If skiing and snowboarding are your thing, check out one of the three resorts in town: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, and The Canyons. If you'd rather watch, grab tickets to the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding and Freeskiing Grand Prix which takes place at Park City Mountain Resort Dec. 21-22. If shopping is more your speed, take a stroll down the hip-and-funky Main Street, which houses more than 100 unique shops and is lit up with multicolored Christmas lights. For a unique take on A Christmas Carol, head to the Egyptian Theatre, which has a live radio broadcast of the story!
 

Leavenworth, Washington

This cozy town is a spitting image of Bavaria in the middle of Washington state with German and Bavarian-themed homes, shops, restaurants and hotels. What they are known for, besides their adorably themed village, are their festivals. The Christmas Lighting Festival is one of their largest and takes place on three weekends in December. During the festival, the town lights up in multicolored Christmas lights and townspeople dress as holiday characters. There is live entertainment all day, Bavarian food and holiday sweets as well as roasted chestnuts and a tree lighting ceremony. While you are there, check out the Leavenworth Summer Theater's production of A Christmas Carol.

Edinburgh, Scotland

This ancient Scottish town lights up during the holidays, literally, with a breathtaking fireworks display each year out of the Edinburgh castle. In addition to fireworks, hundreds of bagpipers surround the Sir Walter Scott Monument every Christmas to play "Amazing Grace." The city comes alive for six weeks, which makes it one the best places to spend Christmas in the U.K. Pick up some last-minute gifts at the renowned German Christmas Market and then strap on your ice skates to go skating in Europe's largest open-air skating rink at the Winter Wonderland in Princes street Gardens. You also can't miss the St. Giles' Cathedral Choir's annual concert in Parliament Square.

 

Montreal, Canada

If you're dreaming of Paris this Christmas, but it's out of your price range (or don't want the jet-lag), visit the French-Canadian city of Montreal instead! The city has multiple outdoor ice skating rinks that are lit up with holiday lights. One of the best for families is the Patinoire du Bassin Bonsecours in Old Montreal. Your kids won't want to miss the Santa Claus Parade, a Montreal holiday tradition since 1925, which kicks off at Ste. Catherine Street. Another family-favorite activity is the Montreal Christmas fireworks, which go off every Saturday in December at the Old Port. Don't forget to pick up last minute gifts at one of the three great Montreal Cristmas Markets.

Short Romantic Love Stories

Christmas is near and smell of joy and warm love is in the air .
Here's a compilation a short love storie ,take a look :

• Stories 1
  There was a girl named Becca and a boy named Joe. Becca was in a burning house. None of the firefighters could get in the house because the fire was too big. Joe dressed in one of the fire suits and got into the house. When he got up the stairs, the steps fell off behind him. When he got into her room he sealed the door up behind him. He held her tight, kissed her, huged her, then said that he loved her. She asked what was wrong, and he said that he was going to die. Her eyes widened as she began to cry. He picked her up and jumped out of the four story house. He landed on his back with her on top of him. He died to save her life.

• Stories 2
   One night a guy and a girl were driving home from the movies. The boy sensed there was something wrong because of the painful silence they shared between them that night. The girl then asked the boy to pull over because she wanted to talk. She told him that her feelings had changed & that it was time to move on.
  A silent tear slid down his cheek as he slowly reached into his pocket & passed her a folded note.
  At that moment, a drunk driver was speeding down that very same street. He swerved right into the drivers seat, killing the boy. Miraculously, the girl survived. Remembering the note, she pulled it out & read it. "Without your love, I would die."
  

•  Stories 3
  A girl asked a boy if she was pretty, he said "No". She asked him if he wanted to be with her forever, he said "No". Then she asked him if he would cry if she walked away, he said "No". She had heard enough; she needed to leave. As she walked away he grabbed her arm and told her to stay. He said "You're not pretty, you're beautiful. I don`t want to be with you forever, I need to be with you forever. And I wouldn't cry if you walked away, I would die."
  
• Stories 4 ( This is the best one )
  This is what love means.....
  
  
  Love Means... (a girl and guy were speeding over 100 mph on a motorcycle)
  Girl: Slow down. I'm scared.
  Guy: No this is fun.
  Girl: No its not. Please, it's too scary!
  Guy: Then tell me you love me.
  Girl: Fine, I love you. Slow down!
  Guy: Now give me a big hug. (Girl hugs him)
          Can you take my helmet off and put it on? It's bugging me.
  
  In the paper the next day: A motorcycle had crashed into a building because of break failure. Two people were on the motorcycle, but only one survived. 
   
  The truth was that halfway down the road, the guy realized that his breaks broke, but he didn't want to let the girl know. Instead, he had her say she loved him, felt her hug one last time, then had her wear his helmet so she would live even though it meant he would die.
  
  
  Just a simple story right ? how do u feel ?
  Well love is more than something ,it means anything ..
  
  Thank You
   
  

The history of Santa Claus: 7 interesting facts

 

As Christmas approaches, children around the world have Santa on the brain. They're anxiously wondering if they've been overly naughty or sufficiently nice, and eagerly daydreaming about their potential gift hauls. But exactly how did the jolly, bearded North Pole resident evolve into the cultural icon we know today? Here, seven interesting facts about his evolution:

1. He was real, sort of a....

Folklore may have turned Santa Claus into a toy distributor who mans a sleigh led by eight flying reindeer, but he is actually based, loosely, on a real person. Born around the year 270, St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, a town in what is now Turkey. He earned a reputation as an anonymous gift giver,  by paying the dowries of impoverished girls and handing out treats and coins to children — often leaving them in their shoes, set out at night for that very purpose. Since his death, Nicholas has been canonized as the patron saint of children.

2. He's only been 'Santa Claus' for 200 years

A Dutch tradition kept St. Nicholas' story alive in the form of Sinterklaas, a bishop who traveled from house to house to deliver treats to children on the night of Dec. 5. The first anglicizing of the name to Santa Claus was in a story that appeared in a New York City newspaper in 1773

3. Satire first sent Santa down a chimney

In his satiric 1809 book A History of New York, Washington Irving did away with the characterization of Santa Claus as a "lanky bishop," says Whipps. Instead, Irving described Santa as a portly, bearded man who smokes a pipe. Irving's story also marked the first time Santa slid down the chimney,

4. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" introduced the reindeer

Clement Moore's 1822 poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas — which is now more commonly referred to as "Twas the Night Before Christmas" — was first published anonymously in the Troy, N.Y., Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823. The 56-line poem introduced and popularized many of Santa's defining characteristics — chiefly, that he drove a sleigh guided by "eight tiny reindeer."

5. Coca-Cola created the modern Mr. Claus

When Father Christmas first began showing up in illustrations, he wore many different colored robes: Green, purple, blue, and brown, among others. Beginning in the late 1800s, it became popular to outfit Santa in a red suit. Artist Louis Prang depicted him that way in a series of Christmas cards in 1885, and The New York Times reported on the red garments in 1927. But the modern image of Santa Claus as the jolly man in the red suit was seared into American pop culture in 1931, when artist Haddon Sundblom illustrated him that way for a widely-circulated campaign for Coca-Cola.

6. The department store Santa is a 120-year-old tradition

In 1890, Massachusetts businessman James Edgar became the first department store Santa, according to The Smoking Jacket. Edgar is credited with coming up with the idea of dressing up in a Santa Claus costume as a marketing tool. Children from all over the state dragged their parents to Edgar's small dry goods store in Brockton, and a tradition was born.

7. Santa was a bachelor until the late 1800s

The first mention of a spouse for Santa was in the 1849 short story A Christmas Legend by James Rees. Over the next several years, the idea of Mrs. Claus found its way into several literary publications, like the Yale Literary Magazine and Harper's Magazine. But it wasn't until Katherine Lee Bates' widely-circulated 1889 poem Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride that Santa's wife was popularized. ("Goody" is short for "Goodwife," or "Mrs.")

Source : Colour Lovers, Independent, MSNBC, The Smoking Jacket

What Your Gifts Mean

Have you ever wondered what those gifts that you are either giving or receiving mean? A lot of people may not think about it and just buys anything as long as they have something to give, but every gift has a meaning, especially to those who are really close and value their relationship a lot.

Often, the monetary value of the gift is not relevant, it's the meaning that is more important. Christmas cards or Birthday cards that you made yourself is more meaningful than any other expensive gift.

So before you start buying gifts for the holiday season, read on first so that you'll have an idea about gifts and their meaning.

What Bracelets Mean

There are different kinds of bracelets that you can give. There are charm bracelets that are supposed attract wealth, health, or good karma to the person wearing it, there are magnetic bracelets that helps avoid arthritis, and a whole lot more with different uses. But the most common use of bracelets is to strengthen a relationship, these type of bracelets are called friendship bracelets.

The most common friendship bracelets are those simple pieces of strings woven together, they are very symbolic because most of the time they are personally made. However, you might want to give something that will last longer than the conventional string bracelet. Silver bracelets are the top choice at these times because you can have a personal message engraved on them.

If you want to give something meaningful this holiday season, on any occasion actually, you can never go wrong with personalized bracelets.

What Necklaces Mean

Necklaces have a deeper meaning than bracelets, they are used to strengthen a relationship as well but it's of a different level. Necklaces gets passed on from generations to generations, usually among mothers and daughters. It forms a bond that will stand the test of time. A story about the necklace will also be told as the necklace is passed on and the daughter will do the same to her daughter. Don't break the chain : )

Lockets are also very popular and are very meaningful since you can put your pictures in them. Everybody loves to reminisce sometimes and a locket with a picture in it is a very good reminder of the relationship that you have.

Personalize it to add more meaning and relevance.

Keepsake Gifts

Keepsake gifts help those near and dear to you remember that special day for years to come. You'll want to consider giving extra special gifts. keepsakes could be anything that will serve as a reminder of friendship or of that event that you both cherish. It could be a friendship bracelet, a ring, a wine glass, a mug, or anything that will spark that memory whenever he sees it.

What Perfumes Mean

There is joke about giving perfumes as gifts, they say that if you give a perfume to somebody you're saying;

"You smell so bad I can't stand it! Here, use a perfume, pleeeease!"

But of course that's not true...or is it in your case?

It is true however, that we want that person to always smell good and be at his best. A sweet smell gives out a positive aura and a good impression. Remember, first impressions last and you don't want to be known as somebody who smells like a dresser. Ever heard, "He's not really good at selling...but he smells good"

Actually, you can never go wrong with perfumes, not unless its a really bad perfume. But how can you call it perfume, if it smells bad? hhmmm... Anyway, here's a list of perfumes that smells really good at a steal.

What Educational Toys Mean

I think this one os pretty obvious. Very good gifts, especially for kids. If you give one, it means that you want that child to grow up intelligent. Educational toys help in brain development. As far as I know, a chids brain is most active and is developing rapidly until the age of 7 so you would really want to feed his mind before he reaches 7 and then just reinforce the development as he grows.

So instead of giving useless toys that will be forgotten after a month or two, try educational toys. they will not only enjoy them, they will also learn from them. Plus, parents will surely appreciate them.

How to Talk to a Girl You Like for the First Time

Having a crush on a girl can make you very shy around her, especially if you don't know each other well. Here's how to strike up a natural conversation with the girl you like.

Step 1.Make eye contact

Spend a few days catching her gaze every now and then. Don't just stare at her, though; instead, shoot her small glances until your eyes meet and she catches you. When she does, smile slightly and look away after a second. You'll probably blush as well, which is all the better - blushing indicates you're nervous, which is a hint that you like her.
 

Step 2.Time it right.

When you do talk to her, pick a time that's convenient. Don't try to get her attention when she's obviously involved in something else, and try to have a bit of privacy - you don't have to be completely alone, but her attention shouldn't be too distracted.

Make the interaction extra casual (and put a time limit on it) by talking to her while you're both walking somewhere else. If you walk to a class at the same time as her, or you start walking the same way home, this is a great opening.




Step 3.Start with a compliment.

Paying a girl the right compliment makes your intentions clear right away - she'll know instantly that you're interested in being more than her friend. Here are some things to consider:

1.   Know how to deliver a compliment. Even the best compliment in the world will fall flat if your delivery is off. Keep a half smile as you talk - it will make you naturally add appealing inflection to your voice. (Try this trick out when you answer the phone sometime and see if you notice a difference.) Maintain eye contact with her, and keep the tones of your voice up, but lower the actual volume - speaking softly immediately communicates intimacy, and it can make her instinctively lean in closer to hear you. If this all sounds a bit difficult, practice it in front of a mirror first.

2.   As anyone who's ever had a stalker can tell you, there's a fine but definite line between flattering and creepy. With this in mind, choose your compliment wisely. Saying something like "You always look amazing in that shirt" can come off as weird if you don't know her well, and implies that you watch her. (Even if you do, it's best not to spill that information immediately.) Instead, opt for something general but cute, such as "Your smile is glowing today. What's making you so happy?" or "I thought what you said in class earlier was really interesting." A good compliment should naturally lead to more conversation, instead of just hanging awkwardly in the air after you say it.

3.   Know what to avoid. If you're going to pay a girl a compliment about her physical looks, stick to her eyes, smile or hair. Do not comment on her body otherwise, especially on the first interaction.

4.   If you want to play it extra safe, pick something you already know she's proud of. For instance, if you know she's a dedicated violinist, say something like, "I've heard you're an amazing musician," and use it as a way to ask her some questions about it.

Step 4.Keep the conversation moving.

You might be tempted to stop talking and just stare at this girl, but don't let your nerves get the best of you. Allowing a long lull in the conversation will make things feel awkward.


Step 5.Instead, have a mental list of backup questions you can use if you stumble on an uncomfortable pause.


Ask about what she thinks of a shared homework assignment or an upcoming event. Asking for her opinion communicates that you care about what she thinks, and see her as more than just an object.

Use the conversation to find out more about her, but be subtle. For instance, if you want to find out if she already has a boyfriend, you could casually ask, "So, anything fun planned with your boyfriend for the weekend?" If she doesn't have one and she's interested in you, she'll let you know immediately.

Ask open-ended questions. For instance, instead of saying "So, have anything fun planned for the break?" (which can be answered with a short "yes" or "no"), say "What are you going to do to keep busy while school is out?" A question that requires a detailed response is always better to keep a conversation flowing.

Step 6.Make her laugh (optional)

If you're sure you've got a joke she'll appreciate, give it a shot. The goal is to show her you have an engaging sense of humor, but you don't want to come off as desperate or cheesy.

Rule 1. If possible, crack a joke about the current situation or something you both saw happen. Situational humor is more meaningful than a joke you read online. 

Rule 2. Don't tell a dirty joke. It's not appropriate for a first conversation, and it might give her the wrong impression.

Rule 3. If she doesn't get the joke, don't explain it to her unless she asks. Just move on quickly with a new point of conversation.

Rule 4. Good humor is really attractive, but bad humor is a complete turn off. If you can't think of a joke that makes sense with the situation at hand, leave it alone.

Step 7. Close the conversation early

Follow that old saying - "Always leave them wanting more." Find a way to gracefully duck out of the conversation before it goes stale.Good luck! 

Tips : 

1. Girls like guys who smile a lot.
2. Sometimes just laughing and smiling can make a girl melt.
3. Some girls are a little more aware of guys liking them than guys are with girls.
4. Sometimes it helps to be demure and not excited around her. Just act normal and things will go fine.

The "keys" of success healthy diet

Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? I have find out several actions like this :

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
   People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need rather than drink soda or any hi-carbs beverages.

2. Consider whether you're really hungry.
   Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger ,hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it.Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullnes.

3.  Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
   Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit.Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea

4. Enjoy your favorite foods.
   Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag. Putting your favourite foods leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating.You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation 

5. Eat protein at every meal.
   Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.Diets higher in protein and moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss.Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.

6. Spice it up.
   Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied..Because food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much.

7. "Emotion" control
   I think that's most commonly thing that happens daily in our life .The most important key to perform a good and healthy diet is by controlling your "emotion" this is the hardest part thougt.
   One does not simply to manage "emotion". But eventually perform a healthy diet or a healthy life plan can make our life more productive maybe it can also longer out lifespan.

    

   Hopefully this can helping everyone who will starting to do a diet ,and that's including myself then.Thanks for reading.

   
    

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
   People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need

2. Consider whether you're really hungry.
   Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger ,hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it.Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullnes.

3.  Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
   Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit.Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea

4. Enjoy your favorite foods.
   Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag. Putting your favourite foods leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating.You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation 

5. Eat protein at every meal.
   Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.Diets higher in protein and moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss.Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.

6. Spice it up.
   Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied..Because food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much. 

   "Emotion" control
   

   I think that's most commonly thing that happens daily in our life .The most important key to perform a good and healthy diet is by controlling your "emotion" this is the hardest part thougt.
   One does not simply to manage "emotion". But eventually perform a healthy diet or a healthy life plan can make our life more productive maybe it can also longer out lifespan. Hopefully this can helping everyone who will starting to do a diet ,and that's including myself then.
   

   
   

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
   People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need

2. Consider whether you're really hungry.
   Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger ,hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it.Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullnes.

3.  Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
   Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax.Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit.Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea

4. Enjoy your favorite foods.
   Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag. Putting your favourite foods leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating.You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation  

    

Top 5 (REALLY) Fun Ways to Practice Languages

Voxy on 03/22/12

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     We all know that learning a new language is a daunting task. Many people attempt to learn a new language only to give up after a few months because they simply don’t have the time, or don’t see progress. But with today’s technology, we have many more options to expose ourselves to language! Here at Voxy, your success in learning a language is our priority, so we’ve outlined some tips and tricks that we would like to share with you!

1. Use Youtube! Youtube is a great website for watching native speakers of the target language speak, as well as a good way for yourself to broadcast your own language learning journey! When you see native speakers speak on Youtube, you are getting a firsthand experience of how native speakers use the language in specific situations, and broadcasting your attempts to use on youtube can help see if other Youtube viewers can understand and give you tips on improving your skills!

2. Watch your favorite movies, without subtitles. Watch your favorite movies that are in the target language without subtitles. If you’ve seen the movies before, watching it without subtitles in your native language help create coherence even if you don’t completely understand what the actors are saying the entire time. The fact that you’ve seen these movies before and know the plot means you can understand the plot even though you may not fully understand the exact dialogue of the speakers. This helps you connect new vocabulary and phrases from the movie to their meanings.

3. Like sports? Watch your favorite sport and team using commentators from the language you are trying to learn! Don’t watch it in your native language! There are plenty of television channels or websites that show your favorite matches in other languages. This will give you exposure to the specific language of something you love, and soon you will be able to converse to native speakers in your target language about sports at the bar in no time!

4. Current events! Watch the news and read newspapers, or even news websites, in English! You can even read about news in your home country in different languages before you read it in your native language, that way you can compare what you could understand from viewing it in another language before you go back to your hometown news source.

5. The internet is your friend. In today’s interconnected world, you can easily make friends and pen pal’s online from any place in the world. This is a great advantage for language learners that did not exist in the past. All you need is access to a computer and an internet connection and you can have real time conversations with someone that is a native speaker. Have language exchanges and a real life connection to a language besides textbooks and classroom teachers!

That’s all for now, so get cracking on that language exposure!