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Healthy and Refreshing Smoothie Recipes

Going Green:USE THIS, NOT THAT!

Sizzling Summer Fashion

A public marriage proposal is tricky. It can be super-romantic and work out seamlessly, or it can backfire horribly, leaving both parties utterly embarrassed. There is no guarantee a

woman will say yes when proposed to, so why do some men insist on going public? Also, check out some of the hottest trends for the summer, how to go green in the kitchen plus

more in this week’s Your Style.

Live.Love.

Laugh a Lot.

Editor’s Note

Quote of The Week“Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew peo-

ple together through the years.”

Simone Signoret

june 20, 2011

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The Public Proposal Dilemma: What if She Says No?

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Smoothie Recipesfood

HealtHy and RefResHing

There is just something about smoothies that make them almost irresistible as a meal or a snack, and they are par-ticularly good on a hot summer day. Grab your blender and get ready to whip up one of these healthy fruit smoothie

recipes in just minutes.

Peanut Butter and Banana SmoothieOn the go? Blend a banana, peanut but-ter, and milk for a healthy breakfast you can easily take with you.nutrition facts: 303 calories, 9g fat, 45g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 16g protein1 Servingingredients• 10 ounces skim milk or plain soy milk• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter• 1 medium bananadirectionsIn a blender, combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Use 6 ice cubes for a thicker consis-tency.

Banana and Kiwi SmoothieThe fuzzy kiwi fruit may be small in size, but talk about a triple threat! It’s loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, which keep skin firm, promote healthy bones and teeth, and protect you from cancer and heart disease.nutrition facts: 155 calo-ries, 2g fat, 28g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 7g protein2 Servingsingredients• 1 banana, peeled and cut into chunks• 1 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced (about 1/2 cup)• 1 cup low-fat yogurt• 1/2 cup ice cubes• 2 teaspoon maple syrup, optionaldirectionsCombine all of the banana, kiwi, yogurt, ice, and syrup in a blender and whir together until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve imme-diately.

StrawBerrY, Banana and Flax SmoothieAdding flaxseeds to your diet is a great way to increase your intake of omega-3s, which are associated with a lowered risk of heart disease, cancer, and depres-sion.nutrition facts: 278 calories, 7g fat, 43g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 16g pro-teinServing 1ingredients• 1/2 medium banana• 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries• 1 1/2 cups skim milk or light soy milk• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeddirectionsBlend all until smooth

aPricot SmoothieUse fresh apricots when they’re in season for an extra-juicy fruit smoothie. Plus, they’re rich in vita-min A, which helps your eyesight.nutrition facts: 394 calories, 10.5g fat, 63g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 17g proteinServing 1ingredients• 3/4 cup calcium- and vitamin D-fortified soy milk• 4 canned apricot halves (packed in juice)• 2 tablespoons orange-juice concentrate• 2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ• 1/2 your choice of nuts• 1 bananadirectionsIn a blender or food processor, blend all ingredients together.

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What if She Says No?tHe Public PRoPosal dilemma:

he woman was smiling, but she was clearly un-comfortable. She was constantly turning her eyes

away, plus she was shaking her head, even before he made his speech and got down on one knee. Overall, he should have seen the ‘No’ coming. Instead, he started begging as onlook-ers yelled at her not to embarrass him. But she stood her ground.

This video (http://www.essence.com/2011/06/09/must-see-a-surprise-club-proposal-gone-wrong/) has been making its way around the internet for a few weeks now, joining the many other disastrous proposals captured on video and up-loaded for all to see. The comments have been divided: some people agree with her decision while others say she should have spared him the embarrassment by saying yes, then qui-etly breaking things off in private. However, I fully agree with her decision.

A public proposal can indeed be romantic, a sign that a man loves a woman and wants the whole world to know and share their joy. However, I believe it is not always the best option and should only be pursued if the man is 100% sure, abso-lutely certain, no-doubt-about-it positive that the woman will

say yes. While I was embarrassed for the man in this video, I felt even more mortified for the poor woman who was be-ing vilified by the crowd. How dare she turn down this man’s proposal when a good man is so hard to find? And black mar-riages are in crisis? I looked closely at her expressions and saw where she was saying to him, “You can’t fix it like this.” He had also apologized for ‘doing wrong’ in his speech, so clearly, the relationship wasn’t all that stable. What then would pos-sess a man to put himself and his woman in such an awkward position?

Public proposals are tricky and require, as I said before, abso-lute certainty. They also require intimate knowledge of one’s partner. According to Your Engagement 101 (http://www.yourengagement101.com/tag/public-proposals/), “The dos and don’ts of public proposals heavily rely on the type of woman you’re dating. Obviously if she’s reserved and shy, a public proposal isn’t a good idea. But if she loves the atten-tion, a big, showy proposal is probably expected.” It is there-fore advisable that the initiator of the proposal take the time to really understand his/her partner (because some women do propose) before deciding to pop the question, whether privately or publicly.

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Communication is key to understanding your partner and your relationship. I will not speculate on the details of this couple’s relationship, neither will I get into the argument of why she was still with him even though he had done her wrong. What is obvious is that there was a communication lapse somewhere in the relationship and had they been open with each other, they would have both been spared the embarrassment. They would have realized that she was not satisfied with the way things were going, perhaps that they were on different pages where the tra-jectory of the union was concerned. He said, “I can’t go back and change the things I’ve done” (which is true), but if she is the woman he “has to have”, they could have worked decided whether to work out their issues or call it a day.

“It is important when initiating such an event that the guy (if he is the initiator) be aware of the reality of their relationship. Would my girlfriend say yes once I ask? Would [she] say yes de-spite the problems we are encountering but knowing that I am truly trying to make it better? Would [she] say no because she knows I am using this as a method to smooth over the rocky times?” says Yolanda Paul, Project Officer at the UWI HAARP HIV/AIDS Response Programme, who also watched the video. “And it’s really not fair to laugh at the woman and say she was unfair when all the public sees is the actual proposal; they have no clue about the circumstances of the relationship, so we must not be quick to judge.”

Once it is clear that you both see marriage in your future, then a proposal is the next natural step. If you still want to make a statement, here are some tips adapted from Your Engagement 101:

SPorting eventS are too eaSY. They might seem per-fect to a man because he loves sports, but he should always consider the romance factor. If she isn’t a sports fan who would appreciate it, skip the idea altogether.

don’t emBarraSS her. If she doesn’t like too much at-tention, having her favourite artiste serenade her before getting down on one knee at a concert might not work either.

thinK PuBlic, Yet Private. A public proposal need not be a spectacle. For example, you can propose at a public park, perhaps in front of the bench where you first met.

trY video. Simply propose in private, record the proposal and then upload it to YouTube. You get all the benefits of a public proposal while still preserving the intimacy of the actual proposal.

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A photo from the popular public proposal video which gained popularity after it was featured on Essence online.

If the expression on her face is any indication, it’s obvious why the video was titled ‘Surprise Club Proposal Gone Wrong’.

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Going Green:home

here has been much hype about how ‘going green’ can help save the earth, but many people still believe their small ac-tions won’t have a strong enough impact to reduce the effects of global warming. However, as insignificant as you think

your actions are, you would be surprised to know how the effect you have on the environment. Look around your house right now. Are there plastic grocery bags in your kitchen? Then you certainly have a part to play in protecting the earth by practicing ‘green’ activities. Each month, Your Style will suggest simple ways in which you can transform to a greener lifestyle. To begin, we suggest “use this, not that” tips that will help to minimize waste, namely paper towels, water bottles and sandwich baggies.

Lay off the paper toweLs You reach for a paper towel whenever you wash

your hands or whenever you need to clean up a spill. Before you know it, you have used an entire roll of paper towels in just a few days. You have formed a paper towel habit because sponges easily carry millions of bacteria. However, as insignificant as you think your actions are, you would be surprised to know the effect you have on the environment. They can be used to do all the jobs your paper towels are used for -wiping down the counters and drying your hands after washing them, to name a few. Just add them to your laundry and you’ll have them to reuse.

trade the ZipLocks for ‘banish baggies’

You once thought Ziplock bags were the greatest inven-tion, but where do they end up after several uses? Right in the garbage, and we all know that plastic bags take several hundred years to be broken down. So, instead of storing the cookies and other snacks in these plastic bags, trade up to reusable sandwich baggies made from recycled material. Sounds strange? They can be purchased at many of your local supermarkets. If you aren’t sold on the sandwich bags, your nest best bet is to use BPA-free plastic containers,

which can be purchased in a number of different sizes.

reusabLe shopping bagsIt’s time you go with the flow. Many local supermarkets are now providing their customers with reusable shopping bags, with some being sold for a little as $35. Therefore, you have no excuse to be leaving the supermarket every week with your plastic bags. Studies have shown that the average plastic bag is used for 20 minutes, which is prob-ably equal to your trip from the supermarket. Switching to reusable shopping bag is one of the most environmentally friendly steps you can take and it simple as can be.

Tuse tHis, not tHat!

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Sizzlingfashion

ummer is here and that means more sun and - if you are up to for it - definitely more fun. One sure way to get into the fun of the season is to break out the summer essentials from your closet. In most cases, we can’t all afford to shop for a whole

new wardrobe every summer, so Your Style suggests that you shop smart and get the most for your every dollar (whatever it’s worth these days). Stay chic this summer by adding budget-friendly essentials and colorful or unique accessories to complete your look.

SunglassesAviators aren’t the only hot style in sunglasses this

year. Oversized shades make a big, bold statement. One thing to look out for when buying shades is how it comple-ments the shape of your face.

Floppy HatNext to Kate’s gown, all eyes were on the hats at the

royal wedding. But forget about those outrageous ones you saw at Westminster Abbey; a floppy straw hat is right up your alley this summer, whether at the poolside or having drinks on the beach with friends. A brimmed straw hat can definitely add oomph to your summer dress and is equally perfect with a tank top and jeans shorts. Along with the glamour, it gives plenty of sun protection.

Medium Sized Bag that PopsEmbrace color. Cobalt blue, sunshine yellow, hot pink and racy red are all perfect for summertime, but what’s really hot this year are citrus shades. A medium size is ideal particularly if you are a girl that likes to travel with all you essentials.

Unique shoesA woman’s shoes say a lot about her, so make your

statement loud and clear. Pick a sandal with unusual heels, interesting materials or fancy embellishments.

SsummeR fasHion

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