V-day Chocolate?

I noticed today while at Fresh Market a Valentine's display....full of an assortment of chocolates- Lindt, Ghirardelli to name a couple brands...and of course Valentines day Pez, suckers etc.

The display of chocolate made me really start thinking about what a coworker told me at work this week! I was notified of the increase in chocolate prices! We immediately started to plan our attack and how to get a emergency supply of chocolate before these price hikes took effect!!!

So, I googled it- "Chocolate prices"...

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/ChocolatePricesSoar.aspx

Three million tons of cocoa, worth $5.1 billion, are produced around the world each year. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold for Valentine's Day, according to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association.

Hershey (HSY, news, msgs) warned just two weeks ago that it was raising the price of its chocolate bars because of rising prices for commodities, including milk and cocoa. "Our products include far more pure milk chocolate and solid chocolate than our competitors," Hershey spokesman Kirk Saville told The Associated Press at the time.

Cadbury Schweppes (CSG, news, msgs) has also warned about rising cocoa prices. We "have recently implemented price increases in many of our confectionery markets to offset continued sharp rises in food commodity costs," the company said in a December 2007 press release.

"It is inevitable that some chocolate prices will go up to compensate for very significant increases in costs," the company's finance director Ken Hanna said in December. Hershey shares have fallen 9% over past three months; Cadbury is down 6% over the same period.

A year ago, analysts were fretting that the world chocolate supply would be threatened by both climate and political shifts in Africa.A year ago, analysts were fretting that the world chocolate supply would be threatened by both climate and political shifts in Africa.

But in fact, the current price surge is due less to supply issues than to market forces, explained Alaron's Cruel.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=7775585

If you have a sweet tooth, this won't be sweet news to you. Chocolate is getting more expensive.

There's a shortage building for the past six years. The main reason - farmers in West Africa have little incentive to plant cocoa trees. They take three years to mature and growers earn less than a $1 a day selling to big corporations.

One expert says in 20 years, the average joe won't be able to afford chocolate unless new research into growing higher-yielding trees prove fruitful.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1942398.shtml?cat=1

Politics half way around the world could affect the price you pay for chocolate. Political unrest in the Ivory Coast has led the country's leader to call for a ban on cocoa bean exports from the world's largest cocoa producer.

Local chocolate shops say they'll feel the effects of the ban even if they don't use beans from the Ivory Coast. Chocolate retailers say their costs have already gone up significantly over the past few years.

Some stores have had to raise prices. Other shops say they'll keep prices steady but make smaller size chocolates to deal with the rising cost of cocoa.

So...Will you buy chocolate or "Sweethearts"?

Or use leftover candy canes for your sweeties present?

Hot Yoga

I got a Living Social deal the other day via email for 10 classes (90 min) of Hot Yoga for $20! What a deal!!! Most classes are ~$20 per single class! I snatched that baby up and forwarded the email to some friends!

Next, I googled "HOT YOGA" to find out what I was getting myself into! I read "45% humidity" and "104 degrees"...and was excited but scared to go to my first class.

I kept reading more about it and decided to attend my first class 1/27/11.

Looking back on the class, it was a good workout....good stretches and I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow and the next day!!! BUT, the room was not 104 degrees! I wonder if other classes actually heat the room to be HOT HOT HOT!

I'm looking forward to attending my other 9 classes with this coupon!!!

From Meta's blog....

The 5 Hot Benefits of Hot Yoga!

1) Encourages Detoxification!

The hot environment of a hot yoga class induces more sweating and you therefore can release more toxins from your body. Sweating is good for you. Just be aware of how much you do lose during a class. Bring a water bottle and add a good electrolyte supplement if you are one of those people that excessively sweat or have low blood pressure. Always go by how your body feels.

2) Helps Cardiovascular Fitness

Hotter temperatures increase your heart rate naturally. So during a Hot Yoga class you will feel your heart rate soar higher than a regular Hatha style class. Again proceed with caution if you have cardiovascular health issues. If you have hypertension or high blood pressure it is not advised to do hot yoga. For those that are healthy otherwise you will find your cardio system will get stronger and you will have more endurance in all other activities you perform. I personally found that my running has improved significantly since practicing hot yoga. I can run longer and with more stamina. Not to shabby!

3) Encourages Flexibility:

Like all types of yoga, Hot Yoga encourages muscular flexibility. The hot temperature helps get muscles warmed up and hot throughout the practice. I find this especially inviting in the winter months when I feel more stiff and cold internally.

There are caveats to this extra flexibility. Being in a warm room may place you at risk of OVER stretching. So as much as its so tempting to go beyond what you normally can do in a regular yoga class, DON’T! Trust me on this one. You don’t want to pop a hamstring or knee joint because you feel more loose. Do what you normally are capable of doing.

Actually my advice here is DO LESS when you first begin hot yoga classes. This means PULL BACK a bit in your poses and don’t go all out. Less is definitely more in YOGA. You still reap all the benefits, and it will give you more room to really focus on the breath!

4) Improves Metabolism and Digestion:

Many report that hot yoga helps boost the metabolism and also curbs over eating. Improved digestion also is big one with many hot yoga practitioners. I’ve noticed since incorporating more hot yoga classes, that my appetite has diminished significantly and is more stable. So I don’t hit sugar lows or raging cravings as much! Very nice

Also, it appears that the increase in circulation and enhanced detoxification really help to improve the digestion, assimilation and elimination of food through the system. Yoga improves peristalsis action of the colon with poses such as twists, forward bends and inversions. The heat increases the heart rate and thus raises the metabolism more so than a gentle or regular yoga class. So if you are struggling with some extra pounds or digestive upset hot yoga may help improve your weight management goals too!

5) Improved Circulation and Raises Core Body Temperature

All yoga helps with circulation and stagnant energy. Hot Yoga provides an added element – HEAT that helps those with circulation problems get warm and stay warm all day. I’ve noticed personally a huge difference in my tolerance for cold weather. I normally am always feeling very cold. My hands and feet are often like ice! But with temperatures below freezing lately here in Toronto, I’ve actually been outside more! Now this is like headline news in my life. I usually hibernate indoors or the yoga studio all winter. I’ve been outside more, and exploring the winter delights. Thank you HOT YOGA

Keep the deordant handy, lots of towels, and drink drink drink the H2O…..

Namaste

http://yogaheals.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/lets-heat-it-up-with-hot-yoga/

Nursing Chart Bloopers!!!

Oh the things that you'll find written in a chart!!!

1. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

6. On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.

7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

8. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

9. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

10. Patient’s medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40-pound weight gain in the past three days.

11. While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home.

12. The patient will need disposition, and therefore we will get Dr. Blank to dispose of him.

13. Healthy-appearing, decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.

14. The patient expired on the floor uneventfully.

15. Patient was becoming more demented with urinary frequency.

16. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.

17. The patient experienced sudden onset of severe shortness of breath with a picture of acute pulmonary edema at home while having sex which gradually deteriorated in the emergency room.

18. He had a left-toe amputation one month ago. He also had a left-knee amputation last year.

19. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped and he was feeling much better.

20. The patient is a 79-year-old widow who no longer lives with her husband.

21. Many years ago the patient had frostbite of the right shoe.

22. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

Swimsuit!

While looking for crafty ideas...I ran across this!!!

A swimsuit....that is knitted...

Interesting to say the least!!!

Black Bean Cakes

Spicy Black Bean Cakes with Lime Sour Cream

• For Bean Cakes:

• Olive Oil

• scallions

• garlic cloves, crushed

• jalapeno chiles, finely diced (optional)

• 2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and coarsely grated

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

  
  

• For Lime Sour Cream:

• 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

• 1 small jalapeno, minced (optional)

• Heat the broiler. In a small skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cook the scallions until softened, about 1 minute. Add garlic, jalapeno and cumin and cook until fragrant; 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl.

• Add the beans to the bowl; mash with a fork or potato masher, leaving about one quarter of the beans whole. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the sweet potato, egg and breadcrumbs. Divide into 8 equal sized balls; flatten into patties.

• Brush baking sheet with remaining oil and place patties on the sheet. Broil until golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Turn cakes over and broil an additional 2 to 3 minutes until crisp.

• Combine the sour cream, lime juice and jalapenos and season with salt.

• Serve cakes with sour cream for dipping.

  
  

  ***I served mine with salsa....and cooked some under the broiler and some in the frying pan.***

  
  

Harris Teeter- Super Doubles!

So I just started couponing again....so my coupon stock wasn't that great....but I still saved!!!

Coupons- $30.47!

Total out of pocket-- $22.32

What I got-

Ziploc sandwich bags x 2

Bic Razors x 2

Campbell Soup x 2

Splenda 100 individual packs x 2

Finish electrasol tabs

Vitamin Water Zero x 2

Arm & Hammer clothes detergent (B1G1- no coupon, but I needed it)

Ortega Salsa (on VIC, but no coupon, again needed it)

I thought I did pretty good! 58% savings!!!

Eggplant Dip

My Eggplant Dip

1 eggplant

2 red peppers, diced

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves of Garlic

Directions:

Bake the eggplant in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour or microwave it for 8-11 minutes. In a covered, shallow pan or pot, steam-fry the tomato, pepper, and onion until soft. Scoop out or peel the eggplant and blend it with the steamed vegetables and seasoning.

Cooling in the refrigerator....haven't tried just yet!