Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year


Time is running out! Later it will be another year that we are going to face. I hope this coming year will be fruitful one. Good luck in the year of the earthly ox guys.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Reunion


I attended our Reunion last December 29, 2008 at Alynnas swimming pool. Our batch 2001 of Notre Dame of Tacurong for Boys and Girls conducted the said celebration in order for us to get together after seven years. Our one organizer of the said event that this year will be our pre reunion for next year we will know what to do. I have fun because I went home late we drink alcohol and we had videoke.

Friday, December 26, 2008

My cute two little nieces


Lydonna Faith (left) and Easter Grace (Right) are now grown ups. Lydonna now is 20 years old ans Easter is 18 years old. They are the daughters of my cousin Grace and Nelson Gallimba. They are residing in California. When they are still kids their parents brought them here in Philippines but they did not stayed long.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Turkey!


Last week I was planning to buy turkey. What do you call the small turkey? chicks? Anyway, I want to raise them in our farm. I did some research on what food and vitamins that I'm going to feed them in case I have them. I talked to my father about his friend who is selling the turkey, sad to say the mother turkey died along with her chicks because of the climate. I dream to prepare this dish next year's Christmas. I hope I can find one next year. I will cross my finger on these.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad


My Mom and Dad Celebrate their 28th year of being together. I remember those days that my dad suffered from illness and my mom took care of him. Out of her love to him she fully surrendered everything to the Almighty God their marriage. Patience, understanding name it! Mom gave it all to him. I love my parents because until now I see how much they cared and loved each other. As for my present to my parents, I give both of them bracelet. Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing me into this world to witness how beautiful it is. I love you both!

Friday, December 19, 2008

I'm Inspired


After five days I never got a chance to make post in my blog. Because of the activities I had this Christmas break. I attended lots of parties such as divine mercy Christmas party wherein my brothers and sisters in the said organization shared their blessings to the poor. We called that activity gift giving. The recepient had fallen their tears of joy. They are glad to receive goods that they will prepare for Christmas day! Christmas is a time for sharing and giving your blessings.
Let us not forget that our savior was born in the manger with his mother Mary and his father Joseph.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Trail Bars


When you bake your own “energy” bars, you can be assured that they include whole grains like rolled oats and whole wheat flour and healthy fats like canola oil, peanut butter, and walnuts. Peanut butter stands in for butter in these treats, reducing the saturated fat and boosting protein. These bars make ideal snacks—tuck one into your pocket when you head out the door.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Baking time: 20 to 25 minutes
Makes 24 bars

You Will Need
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup natural-style smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or almonds (2 ounces/60 grams)
1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

What to Do
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Coat a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33-centimeter) baking pan with nonstick spray.

2. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the peanut butter, sugar, and honey in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until blended. Blend egg and egg whites with a fork in a small bowl. Add to the peanut butter mixture, along with oil and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add reserved flour mixture and mix with a rubber spatula. Mix in oats, dried cranberries (or raisins), walnuts (or almonds), and chocolate chips. Scrape batter into the prepared baking dish. Use a piece of plastic wrap to spread batter into an even layer.

3. Bake the bars until lightly browned and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack before cutting into 24 bars. One serving is one 2 x 2-inch (5 x 5-centimeter) bar.

Ingredient Note
If you must avoid peanut butter because of an allergy, you can substitute soy nut butter or sunflower seed butter (for tips on adapting recipes to sunflower seed butter, visit www.sunbutter.com). You can replace the nuts with unsalted roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and/or sunflower seeds (look for unsalted seeds in the bulk bins of natural foods stores).

Tip
To avoid wasting the egg yolks, use reconstituted dried egg whites, such as Just Whites, which are available in the baking or natural foods sections of large supermarkets.

Per serving (1 bar)
175 calories
4 g protein
24 g carbohydrates
2 g fiber
8 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat
9 mg cholesterol
68 mg sodium

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tara Reid Enters Rehab


Tara Reid has entered rehab.

"Tara Reid has checked herself into Promises Treatment Center. We appreciate your respect to her and her family's privacy at this time," Reid's rep tells ET.

Reid's rep did not disclose what the 'American Pie' and 'Van Wilder' actress, 33, is receiving treatment for.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Kiefer Sutherland's 'Star' is Born


Kiefer Sutherland received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Tuesday!

The '24' star's famous father, Donald Sutherland, was also on hand for the ceremony.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Drummer Boy Cake


Looking for an impressive finale to your holiday dinner? This spectacular dessert, drummed up by our test kitchen, features a sweet-tart cranberry topping paired with a tangy orange cake and filling.

You Will Need
Topping
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup red currant jelly
Cake/Filling
1 medium navel orange, unpeeled and quartered
1 package (18 1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 1/2 cups water, divided
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, cubed
Yellow liquid food coloring

Frosting
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
Yellow and red liquid food coloring
28 fresh or frozen cranberries

What to Do

For topping:
1. Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a microwave-safe bowl; let stand for 1 minute. Microwave on high for 40 seconds; stir. Let stand until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 1 minute; set aside.

2. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, cook cranberries and sugar, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 7 minutes. Cool slightly. Stir in jelly and gelatin mixture. Cover and chill for 5 hours or overnight.

For cake:
1. Process orange in a blender or food processor until finely chopped; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat cake mix, 1 cup water, oil, and eggs on low speed until moistened. Add 1/3 cup chopped orange; beat for 2 minutes on medium. Set remaining orange aside for filling.

2. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch round baking pans. Bake at 350°F until a toothpick comes out clean, 28-31 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.

For filling:
1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and remaining water in a saucepan until smooth. Add butter and 1/3 cup chopped orange (discard any remaining orange or save for another use). Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in a few drops yellow food coloring; cool.

2. Split each cooled cake into two horizontal layers. Place bottom layer on serving plate; spread with a third of the filling. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread the cranberry topping over top to within 1/2 inch of edges.

For frosting:
1. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and extracts. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, alternately with milk, beating until frosting is light and fluffy.
2. Using 2/3 cup of frosting, frost cake sides. Tint remaining frosting gold with yellow and red food coloring. Cut a hole in a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip #8. Fill with gold frosting. Pipe connecting diagonal stripes around side of cake; add cranberries at end points. With star tip #21, pipe a shell border around top and bottom of cake.

Serves: 12-15

Monday, December 8, 2008

Simple Till Six: An Eating Plan for Busy People


My route to saner eating was more or less accidental. Two years ago, I was 57 and weighed more than I ever had. When I graduated from college, I weighed 165 pounds; when I stopped smoking, about five years after that, I weighed 180. Then, when my first daughter was born and I had started writing about food and doing some serious eating and drinking, I hit 190. Over the next 20 years, I managed to gain more weight, reaching 214.
I'm not a small person, so I didn't look that heavy (I thought), but I was overweight and developed health problems. My cholesterol was up, as was my blood sugar (there's diabetes as well as serious obesity in my family). I had a hernia, my knees were giving out, and I'd developed sleep apnea.

As a reporter and researcher for many years, I was writing a food column called "The Minimalist" for the New York Times and a book called How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. I had (and still have) no intention of becoming a vegetarian, but I could see the writing on the wall: Industrial meat production had gone beyond distasteful and alienating to become disgusting and dangerous (its link to global warming didn't help); traditional, natural ingredients were becoming rare; and respectable scientific studies pointed toward the health benefits of eating more plant-based foods and fewer meat-based foods.

For me, the combination of cholesterol, blood sugar, and apnea was the real trigger. My problems were scary -- and, according to my doctor, all easily remedied. For the cholesterol, I could take cholesterol-lowering drugs or eat less meat; for the blood sugar, I could eat fewer sweets; for the apnea, I could lose 15 percent of my body weight.

Everything pointed to a simpler style of eating. I started following a diet that was nearly "vegan until six." Until dinner, I ate almost no animal products and no simple carbs (no white-flour products, junk food, or sugar-heavy snacks). At dinner, I ate as I always had, sometimes a sizable meal including animal products, bread, dessert, wine -- you name it -- or sometimes a salad and a bowl of soup. I also took several long walks each week (my bad knees couldn't handle more).

Though few nutritionists would disapprove, this eating plan may seem counter intuitive. The opposite schedule (eating the day's heaviest meal for lunch or breakfast) may make more sense for many people. But this suited me. I detest overly prescriptive diets that are impossible to follow, and the point was to eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains and less meat, sugar, junk food, and overrefined carbs, without giving up foods I loved.

My results were striking. I had little trouble eating this way, I began feeling and sleeping better, and I didn't think much about it for a month or two. It just made sense. A month later, I'd lost 15 pounds. A month after that, both my cholesterol and my blood sugar were down, well into the normal range (my cholesterol went from 240 to 180). My apnea was gone, and I was sleeping through the night.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Kevin Costner Partners with NASCAR


Veteran actor Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West, are taking a spin with NASCAR -- and ET has the story!

The Academy Award-winning actor and NASCAR are partnering up for a year-long deal that will include an appearance by Costner at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards banquet on Dec. 5; the narration of "The Ride of Their Lives," the newest NASCAR film; and the premiere of Modern West's new video, "Backyard," on NASCAR.com on Monday, Dec. 8

"As a long time NASCAR fan, I'm very excited about this partnership," said Costner. "They have tremendous fans, which are truly the most passionate in all of sports."

"Backyard" is from the band's debut album, Untold Truths, which was released on Nov. 11, and was performed in the motion picture, "Swing Vote.' It was also performed during a pre-race concert before the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

13 Things Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You


1. I'm a beautician, not a magician. I can give you Gisele Bündchen's haircut, but I can't give you her face.

2. Come at least five minutes early. If you're running late, please call ahead. Show me some basic respect. This is a business, not fun and games.
3. Don't ask me to "squeeze" you in when I'm already booked. I'd be taking time and effort away from other clients. You wouldn't like being treated that way.

4. Hairdresser school does not teach about counter transference, projection, negative reinforcement, or personality disorders. If you're looking for a therapist, all I have is a tail comb and an opinion.

5. Some women think that if they keep their hair all one length the way it was in high school, everyone will think they're still in high school. Guess what? You're not. As you get older, you need to soften the lines around your face. Layers are the magic remedy.

6. Bodies and hair change as hormones change. If your hair is dry, listless, or brittle, or if it's not holding your color or style the way it used to, see a doctor. If your hair isn't overprocessed, you could be pregnant (surprise!) or menopausal (yes, I can tell).
7. A trim is not "just" a trim. It requires my expertise, skill, knowledge, and time. Would you say to your dentist, "It's just a tooth," or to your doctor, "It's just a leg"?

8. That single bill you stuff into the shampoo person's hands isn't doing her any favors. A dollar bill doesn't buy anything anymore. You should tip her at least $3—more if your hair is long.

9. If you want to buy a bottle of color and do your own hair to save a buck, you can live with the consequences.

10. Some clients will say, "Cut my hair just like you did last time." That always baffles me. The average time between appointments is six to eight weeks. I have hundreds of clients. How am I supposed to remember exactly how I did your hair the last time? If you want a carbon copy of a cut and style you loved, take a picture and show me.

11. Why do you think a child's haircut should cost less than yours? Kids don't sit still. Kids kick. It's an intense experience.

12. Standing all day and using scissors and a blow-dryer takes its toll—I have arthritis in my fingers, calcium deposits in my wrist, and 10 percent less hearing than I used to. I am a physical wreck.

13. We see women at their worst. Their hair is wet, they have foils on their hair, they have no makeup on. There's nothing for them to hide behind. So they tell us everything. The truth is, I really don't care what they do sexually. I'm only interested in their hair.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Last-Minute Christmas Centerpiece Ideas


Too busy dashing through malls and last-minute to-do lists to think about holiday table trims?

Not to worry! These quick centerpiece ideas lend a feeling of Christmas to any occasion. They don't take time or money you don't have...just a simple touch of glass.
Begin by setting out some favorite glass pieces where they can catch the holiday lights. Then haul out the holly, trims and imagination to create sparkling table toppers in a twinkling!

Hosting a gala dinner for family and friends? Red and white tea roses, covered or uncovered, crown a cake stand in dazzling holiday style.

Here's how: Place wet floral foam on top of cake stand. Cut rose stems to 3 inches. Insert stems into foam, covering entire surface. Fill spaces with greenery. Add luster with tiny gold gift boxes and a swirl of mini lights and gold mesh.

Or welcome guests with a merry trio of ruby goblets a-shine with quiet candlelight and tucked in holly sprays. Brighten any buffet with a hurricane vase wreathed in colorful berries and studded with sparkly red and green pears. Fill with a pillar candle and potpourri or cranberries and popcorn to convey: It's clearly Christmas!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Jonas Brothers and Other Artists Receive Grammy Nominations


The nominees for The 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday night from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles in a first-ever primetime concert special on CBS. Find out which other artists made the cut!

Country star Taylor Swift co-hosted the one-hour special with actor and rapper LL Cool J. The big event featured performances by five-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey and multiple Grammy winners Celine Dion, and John Mayer.

Rapper Lil Wayne leads the way with eight nominations including the coveted Album of the Year nod, while Kanye West, Jay-Z and Coldplay each received six nominations. The hugely popular and the uprising stars Jonas Brothers were nominated in the Best New Artist category.

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards airs February 8 on CBS.

Check out the Grammy's official website for a complete list of this year's nominees.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Bottled Water Vs. Tap Water


Growing Thirst

Remember the drinking fountain, that once ubiquitous, and free, source of H2O? It seems quaint now. Instead, bottled water is everywhere, in offices, airplanes, stores, homes and restaurants across the country. We consumed over eight billion gallons of the stuff in 2006, a 10 percent increase from 2005. It's refreshing, calorie-free, convenient to carry around, tastier than some tap water and a heck of a lot healthier than sugary sodas. But more and more, people are questioning whether the water, and the package it comes in, is safe, or at least safer than tap water -- and if the convenience is worth the environmental impact.

What's in That Bottle?
Evocative names and labels depicting pastoral scenes have convinced us that the liquid is the purest drink around. "But no one should think that bottled water is better regulated, better protected or safer than tap," says Eric Goldstein, co-director of the urban program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit organization devoted to protecting health and the environment.
Yes, some bottled water comes from sparkling springs and other pristine sources. But more than 25 percent of it comes from a municipal supply. The water is treated, purified and sold to us, often at a thousandfold increase in price. Most people are surprised to learn that they're drinking glorified tap water, but bottlers aren't required to list the source on the label.

This year Aquafina will begin stating on labels that its H2O comes from public water sources. And Nestlé Pure Life bottles will indicate whether the water comes from public, private or deep well sources. Dasani acknowledges on its website, but not on the label itself, that it draws from local water.

Labels can be misleading at best, deceptive at worst. In one notorious case, water coming from a well located near a hazardous waste site was sold to many bottlers. At least one of these companies labeled its product "spring water." In another case, H2O sold as "pure glacier water" came from a public water system in Alaska.

Lisa Ledwidge, 38, of Minneapolis, stopped drinking bottled water a couple of years ago, partly because she found out that many brands come from a municipal supply. "You're spending more per gallon than you would on gasoline for this thing that you can get out of the tap virtually for free," she says. "I wondered, Why am I spending this money while complaining about how much gas costs? But you don't ever hear anyone complain about the price of bottled water." Ledwidge says she now drinks only filtered tap water.

The controversy isn't simply about tap vs. bottled water; most people drink both, knowing the importance of plenty of water. What they may not know is that some bottled water may not be as pure as they expect. In 1999 the NRDC tested more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of water. (This is the most recent major report on bottled water safety.) While noting that most bottled water is safe, the organization found that at least one sample of a third of the brands contained bacterial or chemical contaminants, including carcinogens, in levels exceeding state or industry standards. Since the report, no major regulatory changes have been made and bottlers haven't drastically altered their procedures, so the risk is likely still there.

The NRDC found that samples of two brands were contaminated with phthalates, in one case exceeding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for tap water. These chemicals, used to make plastic softer, are found in cosmetics and fragrances, shower curtains, even baby toys, and are under increasing scrutiny. They're endocrine disrupters, which means they block or mimic hormones, affecting the body's normal functions. And the effects of exposure to the widespread chemicals may add up.

When exposed to high levels of phthalates during critical developmental periods, male fetuses can have malformed reproductive organs, including undescended testicles. Some experts link phthalates to low sperm counts.

Water bottles do not contain the chemical, which means the phthalates detected by the NRDC probably got into the water during processing at the bottling plant, or were present in the original water source (phthalates have been found in some tap water).

Bottled water is regulated for safety, but it's a tricky thing. The EPA regulates tap water, while the FDA oversees bottled. Yet FDA oversight doesn't apply to water packaged and sold within the same state, leaving some 60 to 70 percent of bottled water, including the contents of watercooler jugs, free of FDA regulation, according to the NRDC's report. In this case, testing depends on the states, but the NRDC found that they often don't have adequate resources to oversee bottled water, in some cases lacking even one full-time person for an entire state.

The FDA requires bottlers to regularly test for contaminants, but the agency considers bottled water a low-risk product, so plants may not be inspected every year. According to one FDA official, it's the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure that the product complies with laws and regulations. Some bottlers turn to NSF International, a trade group that conducts yearly unannounced inspections of plants, looking at the source of the water and the treatment process, and testing for contaminants. Other companies belong to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), which also performs annual unannounced tests to ensure the plant is up to FDA standards. IBWA has its own regulations, some of which are stricter than the FDA's.

Bottlers don't have to let consumers know if their product becomes contaminated, but sometimes they pull their products from stores. In fact, between 1990 and 2007, this happened about 100 times, says Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California. Among the reasons for recall: contamination with mold, benzene, coliform, microbes, even crickets.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Truth Behind Orlando Bloom’s Engagement Rumors


It's another surprising news. While engagement rumors swirl surrounding actor Orlando Bloom and girlfriend Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr, Entertainment Tonight has the truth behind the rumors.

On Sunday, reports surfaced that Bloom and Kerr were engaged and that the two are set to marry within the next year.

A representative for the actor tells ET, "This is a rumor, they are not engaged."

Monday, December 1, 2008

Grilled Pizza Bread


You Will Need
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 loaf (1 pound) French bread
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
Sliced pepperoni (optional)


What to Do:
1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the beef and onion until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain.

2. Stir in the tomato sauce, salt, and oregano; simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Cut bread in half lengthwise and then widthwise. Spread meat mixture on cut side of bread; sprinkle with cheese, olives, and pepperoni if desired.

4. Loosely wrap bread individually in pieces of heavy-duty foil (about 24 x 18 inches); seal. Grill covered, over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Serves: 4-6

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Barack Obama Shares Pre-Presidency Concerns With Barbara Walters


President elect Barack Obama In a new interview with Barbara Walters, President-elect Barack Obama reveals some of his concerns about transitioning into his presidency.

For national security reasons, Obama may have to give up use of his BlackBerry, as well as other electronic methods of communication -- something he says seriously concerns him.

"One of the things that I'm going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation -- the bubble that exists around the president," Obama tells Walters. "I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff … to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House."

Obama went on to say he enjoyed his widespread interaction with Americans while he campaigned for the presidency across the nation, but he fears losing that contact.

"One of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day …" he tells Walters. "I want to make sure that I keep my finger on the pulse of the struggles that people are going through every day."

"Barack Obama: The Barbara Walters Interview" airs Wednesday night on ABC.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Katie Holmes to Star in Major Fashion Ad Campaign?


Mother of Suri, Katie Holmes may be the new face of a high-fashion ad-campaign!

According to People, the actress will star in the next Miu Miu ad campaigns, sources tell the mag.

Katie will reportedly appear in the Italian fashion-line's Spring/Summer ad campaign, says People.

Other celebs to star in previous Miu Miu ad campaigns include Lindsay Lohan and Kirsten Dunst.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Healing the Planet with Earth-Friendly Bamboo Products


Jackie Heinricher's love affair with bamboo started in her backyard. "As a child, I remember playing among the golden bamboo my dad had planted, and when there was a breeze, the bamboos sounded incredibly musical. It was my magic fort area."

A fisheries biologist by training, Heinricher, 47, planned to work in the salmon industry in Seattle, where she lived with her husband, Guy Thornburgh, but she found it too competitive. Her garden gave her the idea for a business: She'd planted 20 bamboo groves on their seven-acre farm and had had some success propagating noninvasive clumping bamboos-the ones for small gardens (not the notorious runners that grow two inches an hour and take over the landscape).
Heinricher started Boo-Shoot Gardens in 1998. She realized early on what is just now beginning to dawn on the rest of the world: Bamboo is incredibly versatile as well as very earth-friendly. It can be used to make fishing poles, skateboards, buildings, furniture, floors, and even clothing and bed linens (the fabric is as soft as silk). An added bonus: Bamboo absorbs four times as much carbon dioxide as a stand of hardwood trees and releases 35 percent more oxygen. If Heinricher could use her green thumb to advance a green cause, even better.

First she had to find a way to mass-produce the plants—a tough task, since bamboo flowers create seed only once every 50 to 100 years. And dividing a bamboo plant frequently kills it.

Heinricher appealed to Randy Burr, a tissue culture expert, to help her. "People kept telling us we'd never figure it out," says Heinricher. "Others had worked on it for 27 years! I believed in what we were doing, though, so I just kept going."

She was right to feel a sense of urgency. Bamboo forests are being rapidly depleted, and a United Nations report showed that even though bamboo is highly renewable, as many as half of the world's species are threatened with extinction. Heinricher knew that bamboo could make a significant impact on carbon emissions and world economies, but only if massive numbers could be produced. And that's just what she and Burr figured out after nine years of experiments—a way to grow millions of plants. By placing sterilized cuttings in test tubes with salts, vitamins, plant hormones, and seaweed gel, they got the plants to sprout and then raised them in soil in greenhouses.

Not long after it cracked the code, Burr's lab hit financial difficulties. Heinricher had no experience running a tissue culture operation, but she wasn't prepared to quit. So she bought the lab. "It was a scary leap," she says. "I went from 5 employees to 55 [including Burr]. I didn't sleep much. Changing hats overnight was a lesson in boot camp management. Sometimes I wonder how I got here."

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Trail Bars


When you bake your own “energy” bars, you can be assured that they include whole grains like rolled oats and whole wheat flour and healthy fats like canola oil, peanut butter, and walnuts. Peanut butter stands in for butter in these treats, reducing the saturated fat and boosting protein. These bars make ideal snacks—tuck one into your pocket when you head out the door.
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Baking time: 20 to 25 minutes
Makes 24 bars

You Will Need
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup natural-style smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or almonds (2 ounces/60 grams)
1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

What to Do
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Coat a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33-centimeter) baking pan with nonstick spray.

2. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the peanut butter, sugar, and honey in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until blended. Blend egg and egg whites with a fork in a small bowl. Add to the peanut butter mixture, along with oil and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add reserved flour mixture and mix with a rubber spatula. Mix in oats, dried cranberries (or raisins), walnuts (or almonds), and chocolate chips. Scrape batter into the prepared baking dish. Use a piece of plastic wrap to spread batter into an even layer.

3. Bake the bars until lightly browned and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a rack before cutting into 24 bars. One serving is one 2 x 2-inch (5 x 5-centimeter) bar.

Ingredient Note
If you must avoid peanut butter because of an allergy, you can substitute soy nut butter or sunflower seed butter (for tips on adapting recipes to sunflower seed butter . You can replace the nuts with unsalted roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and/or sunflower seeds (look for unsalted seeds in the bulk bins of natural foods stores).

Tip
To avoid wasting the egg yolks, use reconstituted dried egg whites, such as Just Whites, which are available in the baking or natural foods sections of large supermarkets.

Per serving (1 bar)
175 calories
4 g protein
24 g carbohydrates
2 g fiber
8 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat
9 mg cholesterol
68 mg sodium

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Marinated Asparagus Salad


You Will Need
2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 green onions, chopped


What to Do
1. Place asparagus in a large skillet; add 1/2 in. of water.

2. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Rinse in cold water; drain.

3. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

4. Arrange asparagus in a shallow dish.

5. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over asparagus.

6. Let stand at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving.

Serves 8-10

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Kim Kardashian's Shoe Society


The superstar Kim is the new face of ShoeDazzle.com, an online shoe society that gives its customers their own set of stylists!

Shoppers take a survey to determine their style and Kim and her fashion experts give them a choice of five shoes each month -- each pair only costing $39!

It's a woman's footwear fantasy!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Basketball Buddies: Zac Efron & Leonardo DiCaprio


The uprising star Zac Efron and Leonardo DiCaprio are just two buddies hangin' on a Friday night!

The two caught the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center.

Zac and Leo sat next to Kevin Connolly and Adam Levine as they cheered on the home team Lakers to a 104-90 victory.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

1 Way to Cook and Serve the Perfect Turkey




Whether this is your first time roasting a turkey or your fortieth, these hints and tips will help to make it the centerpiece of your best Thanksgiving meal ever.
When you're ready to cook the turkey, locate and remove the giblet bag (save giblets to make Giblet Gravy). Rinse the bird, inside and out, with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.

Chop your favorite fresh herb -- such as rosemary, sage or tarragon -- and add it to softened sweet butter. To flavor the breast meat, and prevent it from drying out, gently loosen the skin from the flesh (using your fingers to avoid tearing) and pack the herbed butter underneath.

Smooth out the skin with the palm of your hand. Tie the legs together with cotton twine for a prettier presentation at the dinner table. (See: Trussing and Carving a Turkey.)

Cook With Care
Place the turkey, breast-side up, on a roasting rack set in a disposable roasting pan. The rack will keep the turkey from frying in its own juices, and the disposable pan will save on cleanup.

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Brush the outside of the turkey with some vegetable oil and place it in the oven. The oil, along with the high heat, seals in the bird's natural juices. Roast the turkey for 20 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F. Tent a piece of aluminum foil over the breast to prevent excessive browning.

Baste the bird with pan juices or chicken broth every 15 minutes and continue to cook until done (about 10 to 15 minutes per pound). Add an additional 5 minutes per pound if the turkey is stuffed. Sometimes as little as 10 minutes per pound will result in the juiciest turkey.

Do not season the turkey until the last 30 minutes of cooking. Salt draws out moisture, so seasoning toward the end of roasting time will reduce drying.

When the turkey is cooked, its temperature should read 180°F. Do not rely on plastic doneness indicators or leave-in thermometers -- neither are substitutes for instant-read thermometers, which, when inserted into the thigh meat, will take a quick and exact reading. If you don't have a thermometer, make an incision in the skin between the thigh and breast. The juices should run clear with no trace of pink.

When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and let it sit for at least 15 minutes; this will make it easier to carve. To perfect your carving technique, see Trussing and Carving a Turkey.
Hillary Davis is a cooking instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City and the author of several cookbooks.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Peppermint Health Perks


Not just a breath freshener, this healthy herb can calm stomach pain, gas, and diarrhea, according to an international review study. "Peppermint tea in particular helps soothe indigestion symptoms caused by a bug or irritable bowel syndrome," says Eric Yarnell, assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University near Seattle. Strong tea is best.
Yarnell recommends steeping two peppermint tea bags in a cup of boiled water for 15 minutes, being sure to keep the brew covered so the essential oils don't evaporate. (You'll see a slight slick of oil on the surface.) Strong mints and even candy canes may help tame an upset stomach, too, as long as you don't have heartburn (peppermint doesn't stop acid backwash).

Friday, November 21, 2008

Which Twosome Topped The List?


Forbes' release the Top-Earning Hollywood Couples list is out!

"The 20 couples on our list are bound by love and success," said Forbes.com staff writer Lacey Rose.

So how did the mag decide which talented twosome made the most green?

The magazine picked the 20 celebrity duos that raked in the most income between June 1, 2007, and June 1, 2008. "To determine who made the cut, we looked at combined earnings not just from film, TV, and music projects, but also from business ventures, endorsement deals, and fashion lines," Rose added.

So which star-studded couple made the top of the list?!

Check out our ET gallery to see just some of the stars who made the most moolah, and you can go to www.forbes.com/celebcouples to see the list in its entirety. Click on our glamorous gallery to see just how "rich" in love these couples really are!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Rihanna: Lady in Red!


The rising star. Looking radiant in an off-the-shoulder red cocktail dress, is Rihanna exposing a new tattoo over her heart?

Not exactly. The 20-year-old singer was snapped looking stunning in New York Wednesday at the launch of Gucci's Tattoo Heart Collection.

The singer is the new face of the collection's latest ad campaign to benefit The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Former 'Bachelor' Couple On Again?


One of the finest man. "The Bachelor"'s Charlie O'Connell says he's willing to give it another try with Sarah Brice, his choice from the show in 2005.

"Everything's going great right now," O'Connell tells People magazine about the couple's decision to give their relationship another chance. O'Connell, 33, gave Brice the final rose in the show's finale in spring 2005 and the two quickly moved in together in Los Angeles. But they decided to split in April 2007.

"We're not taking each other for granted," says O'Connell, the brother of actor Jerry O'Connell. "I enjoy hanging out with her." "My brother's got kids coming." (Jerry is expecting twin girls with wife Rebecca Romijn soon) "We did look at houses together last weekend. I'm not saying moving in isn't a possibility."

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Victoria's Secrets fashion show 2008


The world's most gorgeous and anticipated show that supermodels revved up the runway during the 2008 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The ultra decadent event showcased 68 outfits including a $5 million bra designed by Martin Katz. The show took place at the newly renovated Fontainebleau Resort -- which was once a playground for the Rat Pack -- in Miami Beach, Florida. The Victoria's Secret Angels glammed up the runway with their luscious lingerie that had everything from lollipops to feet upon feet of feathers adorning it. "The theme of the show is a return to glamour," said Victoria’s Secret CEO Sharen Turney. "Victoria's Secret is about sexy and the new sexy is glamorous for this season." Catch the opulence of the Victoria's Secret 2008 Fashion Show airing on Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. on CBS.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Angelina Jolie Moved to Tears


The finest actress Angelina Jolie an emotional was moved to tears at a London press conference for her new film 'Changeling' on Monday. But what made her break down?

Unable to truly tap into the essence of the real-life character of Christine Collins, whose son disappeared in 1920s Los Angeles, Angelina says she thought of her late mother in order to connect with the role. But when she began to reflect on Marcheline, she became emotional.

"Everybody called her marshmallow as a joke, because she was just the softest, most gentle woman in the world," said Angelina, moved to tears.

"She is very much Christine Collins," she continued. "She was really sweet and would never get angry; she couldn't swear to save her life. But when it came to her kids, she was really, really fierce, and so this is very much her, and her story, in that she was the woman I relate to, who had that elegance and strength through just knowing what was right."

Angelina's mother died of ovarian cancer in January of last year. In previous interviews, Angelina has said that she kept a picture of her mother in her purse with her on the 'Changeling' set in order to channel her courage.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Samantha Ronson Blasts Flour Ambush on Lindsay Lohan


Hot couple Samantha lashes out at animal rights activists who doused Lindsay with flour outside a Paris nightclub and reveals why she was not left laughing after the prank!

"It's a pity that some groups feel the need to assault people as opposed to fighting with words," Samantha wrote on her MySpace blog. Animal rights activists dumped a bag of flour on Lindsay, 22, as she arrived at the club Friday night sporting a fur stole, the Associated Press reported.

"It seems lately I am learning that there are too many people who put another species before their fellow man and that's sad. I don't wear fur, but I don't think I have the right to ATTACK those who do. No one has that right," wrote Samantha, who accompanied Linday to the nightclub.

The nightclub's owner proceeded to dust Lindsay off before she and Samantha made their way down the red carpet and into the building, the AP said. Be sure to tune in to "Entertainment Tonight" on Monday for our exclusive video of the incident!So sad to hear this..

Sunday, November 16, 2008

How Jessica Alba Got Her Sexy Post-Baby Bod!


New hot momma Jessica Alba is spilling secrets about the bounce-back diet and fitness routine behind her sizzlin' post-baby bod.

"I worked out -- not for hours, but I definitely had to work out," Jessica tells People magazine. "And I ate, not a lot of sweets and not a lot of cream. I kept a pretty simple organic diet, which I do now anyway."

The new momma adds that everything about Honor Marie, her baby daughter with Cash Warren, is cute, even "the explosive diarrhea -- the best ever," Jessica says. "She's the love of my life." Great body you got here, Jess!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

I'm exhausted

After three hours of sweeping our backyard, I'm exhausted. I took my cellphone to take pictures on what I have accomplish. Enjoy!

BEFORE


AFTER

BRUNO STARING AT THE SMOKE


BRUNO THE GUARD DOG


BRUNO GUARDING THE PIG HOUSE


I WONDER WHAT THEIR UP TO?! LET ME PEEP?!HMMM.


THE EXHAUSTED LOOK WITH STICK BROOM.

Barack Obama Photoshopped?


Newly Elected President Barack Obama. Is there photo trickery involved in this new Time Magazine cover featuring President-Elect Barack Obama?

Looks that way! Barack is featured on the new cover of Time, on stands now, in a photo replicating a famous photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt taken in 1939, which was also featured on Time back in 2003.

Read all about Barack's family, his political influences, and his plans for the presidency in Time magazine on stands now! Good Luck to you Sir!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Who Wants to Meet Barack Obama?


Newly elected President Barach Obama has an online auction website, just put a new item up for bid: President-elect Barack Obama!

The presidential package, offered by -- charitybuzz.com includes two VIP tickets to the Presidential Inauguration, invites to the Inagural Ball, as well as personal photos with both President-elect Obama, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

The proceeds benefit The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF). Bidding for the ultimate presidential package closes on Nov. 20 at the SWCRF live event. Good Luck to you Sir!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

A kiss from a loyal friend

I'm fascinated with my dogs. I always hug and kiss this. Just like this one. Kissing alex and makes her important is my top priority.



Paula Abdul's Reported Fan Visited Home Multiple Times


New details on Paula Goodspeed are emerging in the wake of her apparent suicide near Paula Abdul's Los Angeles home. Police are now revealing that Goodspeed had visited the "American Idol" judge's home "on multiple occasions," according to People.com.

"Our station has been called to respond to Paula Abdul's house on multiple occasions over the last several years concerning Ms. Goodspeed," LAPD Capt. James Miller tells the Web site. "The last time our officers had contact with Goodspeed was in July."

"I can't say whether Ms. Abdul was directly harassed," the captain continues. "Ms. Goodspeed had been causing enough of a disturbance [to have police called]." There are reportedly no court records of a restraining order by Abdul against Goodspeed.

Goodspeed was a former "Idol" hopeful who did not pass her audition to go to Hollywood. On her MySpace page she wrote about the apparent backlash of her harsh comments about the judges, saying, "It's very hard reading such awful things being written about yourself.....or hearing things being said..... not like alot of people would understand what it's like having so many haters," she wrote, "just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was even ready vocally, emotionally and physically."

Watch ET for the latest developments on this story.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ennifer Aniston: The Vogue Controversy Continues!


What did Jennifer Aniston tell Oprah Winfrey about Angelina Jolie's comments in Vogue and why she responded the way she did?

Aniston sat down with Oprah today for an interview that will air on Thursday, Nov. 13. The two showbiz notables discussed Aniston's upcoming holiday film, 'Marley and Me,' but also addressed the issue of the two Vogue magazine stories -- first Jolie's; then Aniston's, which is on newsstands Nov. 18. It quotes Aniston as saying: "That stuff about how she couldn't wait to get to work [on 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith'] every day? That was really uncool."

One of my favorite actress Jennifer Aniston. When questioned by Lady O as to why she said that, Aniston replied, "He asked me a question and I, basically, just answered it as honestly as I could."

As for her ex-hubby, Brad Pitt, the former "Friends" star took the high road, saying, "He's done some amazing things in the last couple of years. So I just think he's doing great."

As to the fact that 'Marley and Me' opens on Christmas Day, the same day as Pitt's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' she responds, "We all want our movie to do well. Can we have a tie?"

Aniston's love life has been the subject of much speculation with recent reports claiming she is involved again with John Mayer. Tune in to tomorrow's Oprah to get the scoop on that. What we can tell you that what Aniston says about her love life is: "I've been unbelievably lucky in love. It just might not look the way it's supposed to look at this point."

For more on the Aniston interview, as well as an Oprah sit down with Beyoncé, tune in to Thursday's Oprah. Good Luck Girl!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Jayden James Health Update

The Doctors issue the condition of Britney Spears' son Jayden James.

According to a statement posted on BritneySpears.com, docs say the toddler had a negative reaction to "something he ingested." He is expected to be released tomorrow.

The full statement reads: "Jayden James Federline was admitted to the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center on Sunday, November 9th. Doctors concluded he had a reaction to something he ingested. He is expected to be discharged tomorrow."I hope he will recover soon.

Jayden James Health Update


The Doctors issue the condition of Britney Spears' son Jayden James.

According to a statement posted on BritneySpears.com, docs say the toddler had a negative reaction to "something he ingested." He is expected to be released tomorrow.

The full statement reads: "Jayden James Federline was admitted to the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center on Sunday, November 9th. Doctors concluded he had a reaction to something he ingested. He is expected to be discharged tomorrow."I hope he will recover soon.

Joshua Miguel Christening






I was chosen as one of the godmother of this cute little fellow. He is the son of my long time friend and good neighbor. I was not able to witness this special occassion because of my schedule. Anyhow, I wish him good luck in his journey called life and I'm sure he will be a good citizen of this country and maybe someday, he will be a famous engineer.