I have decided that I need to lose weight. I went to Diet Blog to calculate my daily calorie needs and I was discouraged. In order to lose fat, I need to limit my calorie intake to 920-1168 calories a day. That’s just like one lunch for me! John was right, I need to start working out. It’s just so hard to do it alone. I need someone who will force me to work out and work out with me. Yup, I don’t have that much will unfortunately.

Olympic Fact:
Michael Phelps, a great US swimmer at 6′4″, 195 lbs requires 8,000 to 10,000 calories daily!

I’ve never been a fan of yogurt.  But I always try any yogurt that I haven’t tasted.  I believe it’s a good breakfast or snack.  But I haven’t found one that I like until I tasted fruit and yogurt parfaits.  Combining yogurt with fresh fruits and granola does it for me.

There’s a McDonald’s by my work and I stop by to get a parfait for $1 when I feel for a snack.  Starbucks also has their own bigger version, but of course more expensive for the size.  They are easy to make at home, too.  Click here for the recipe.

(photo from TheDailyCollegian)

Who doesn’t like cones with their ice cream? I would definitely prefer to have a cone with mine. But instead of using the same old cones we see everywhere, why don’t you make it more interesting this summer? See how adorable this little ice cream cups are from Martha Stewart:

Delight your guests this summer with these fun ice cream cups. Click here for the recipe and directions on how to make it.

A few years back, I stepped to a Blockbuster looking for a treat and found a Choco Taco.  I haven’t found any tastier frozen treat since then.

The problem is, Choco Taco is not widely sold.  I usually just see them in Blockbuster, 7-Eleven, rest stops, vending machines and such :(.  Choco Taco is made by Klondike and I don’t know why they are not sold as widely as the other Klondike products.  I’ve heard that the Klondike people consider Choco Taco an “impulse item”, that’s why they’re not widely sold.  Well, they better change that and have them widely available.

I practically eat all cheese, but earlier this week, I found another favorite.  The Montbriac or sometimes called Roche Baron Blue:

This cheese is made in Pouligny-Saint-Pierre in central France by a small agricultural concern. It is the result of a successful experiment that combined blue mold with a typically French soft, creamy cheese. The French are well-known for their expert ability to produce the world’s best soft cheeses, and RocheBaron is no exception. RocheBaron is made by injecting their delicious soft-as-Brie cheese with the same mold that is used to produce Roquefort. Rich and sinfully creamy, this wonderful product is a fantastic example of the French love for fine cheeses. It has a strong, blue flavor so be sure to serve it to cheese lovers only!

I definitely recommend it.

My favorite popcorn, Dale & Thomas, is offering 2 FREE bags of popcorn.  It’s not exactly free, you have to pay for shipping that costs $2.95 per bag.  Click here to get your free popcorn.

chocolate, strawberries, crepes and whipped cream has lead to a daily visit to the Melt Gelato and Crepe Cafe at the Southshore Plaza.  And the mall is conveniently located just across the movie theater John and I always go to.  This weekend alone, I had 3 strawberry and creme and one strawberry royale.  Yum!

Let’s forget about food for a moment and talk about movies.  We watched Rush Hour 3 and War.  Surprisingly, I liked War more.

Rush Hour 3 is pretty predictable and revolves around protecting the Chinese ambassador and his daughter from of course those who want to kill them.  It’s practically Rush Hour 1 and 2 all over again, just in a different setting.  It wasn’t as funny as how I remembered the first two, but I still love Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.  I think they make a great team.

War, on the other hand, is not a funny movie.  It’s pure action.  Some may be grossed out by the violent killings, but the plot called for it.  At least the ending wasn’t as predictable as the whole Rush Hour 3.  I like a little twist in my movies.

(image via Bitlounge.com)

Bubble (boba) tea or milk tea is the closest thing to tea that I drink.  They come in different flavors from coffee to fruity.  But I really only drink chocolate milk tea and I’m addicted to it.  Instead of spending around $3 every cup, I wonder if I could just make them at home…

Cold Milk Tea Recipe

3 oz. powder (any flavor)
2 oz. creamer (optional)
1 oz. fructose/sweetener (optional)
4 oz. water
8 oz. tea (optional - black or jasmine)
Half cup of ice

(Makes a 16 oz. serving)

1) Add powder, creamer and fructose into 2-3 oz. of hot water to dissolve. Stir well.
2) Add 8 oz. of tea (optional) or water and half cup of ice into the drink, stir or shake well (using a cocktail shaker).
3) Pour drink over tapioca pearls or jelly. Enjoy!

*Adding creamer will make your drink richer and creamier. Adding fructose/sweetener will make your drink delightfully sweeter. Adding tea will give your drink a pleasant hint of natural tea taste.

(recipe via Boba Tea Direct)

Here are some decorating instructions from Michaels and Wilton to create delightful treats this summer.  Each set of decorating instructions includes the skill level required to do the project so you can choose what project to tackle.

Click images for instructions

+ Read on…