Every year when Holidays on the way, I make sweets for my family and friends, sending my best wishes and love to the people every I spend my time or thoughts. The number one favor treats for my friends is Italian classic biscotti.

Unlike traditional recipe, I innovated a new way to balance healthy ingredients yet tastes extremely good with unique flavor and crunchy, gentle bites, with sip of creamy warm coffee or tea, you finally feel the holidays.

I’d love to share the recipe, so you can make the same fun for yourself and special treats for your friends and loved ones.

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 grams or 8 oz) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 grams or 8 oz) whole wheat flour
1 cup (400 grams) raw whole almonds
2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated organic brown sugar or raw cane sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon anise or vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoon non-trans-fat butter

Direction:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Toast almonds for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Let cool.
Beat the sugar and eggs on until thick (about 5 minutes).
(When you slowly raise the beaters the batter should make little ribbons.)
Beat in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder.
Add to the egg batter and butter and mix until combined.
Fold in the almonds.
Form dough into a log, about 12 inches (30 cm) long and 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) wide. Really you can form however you want to fit your baking container. Pick the size that makes you happy.
Bake for 15 minutes, then turn over for another 10 minutes to ensure both sides are golden brown and firm to touch.
Remove from oven.
Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). 
Transfer the log to a cutting board and cut into 3/4 inch (2 cm) diagonal slices.
Place the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet.
Bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown. (Many times depending on humidity it takes longer. I will take as long as the biscotti needs to get it dry.)
Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

You may find all ingredients in Trader Joe’s or other super markets.

Just like the movie “No Strings Attached”, guys and girls try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it’s not long before many of them just learn like the movie – that they want something more.

When girls and boys want to have sexual encounter, however they aren’t interested in, or they are not in a position to have a more committed relationship, then having physical relationship with a good friend can be an option and fun. When playing the game of FWB – Friends with Benefits – meaning the relationship is to be temporary only, which is why many people enjoy doing them.

When you are relocating soon, or just ended a serious relationship, or are very focused on your career or other passion, it can be ideal till when you’re ready for the real relationship. However you must prepare and get ready for the game of FWB by following the rules:

Assess Your Life

Understand your position first. Take a look at your life where you are and where you want to be, be honest with yourself and knowing what  you want clearly. Do not start a FWB relationship with someone you secretly want to date. When women settle for a FWB rather than create the long-term relationship they really want, it’s ultimately unsatisfying.

You must ensure you really can handle a physical relationship with no strings attached. The people who are most comfortable with no-strings-attached relationships tend not to be jealous people. They are least possessive, and not into monogamy, at least not at the moment.

An honest self-assessment is probably the best barometer of whether you can handle it, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this the guy I can sleep with and forget about once I get out the door?
• Does the thought of him with another woman makes me ill?
• Am I likely to start planning the wedding after a few tumbles?

Clarify Your Ground Rules

Now you know what you want, it is time to establish relationship ground rules early in the game that keeps everyone well grounded. It’s also key to not getting so swept away by the physical part that you start thinking maybe your FWB is Mr. Right. These things blow up when one person expects the relationship to be one thing and the other person expects it to be something else. If everyone’s on the same page and the expectations are very concrete, a FWB relationship can be a convenient, fruitful experience. The way to make that happen is to have a talk about the expectations from each of you.

Keep Your Mind Clear

By definition, a FWB relationship comes with absolutely no strings. Yes, you like each other. That’s what makes you friends. And if the physical part is mind-blowing, good for you! But hoping to parlay awesome sexual chemistry into a diamond ring, picket-fence and 2.5 kids is a set-up for heartbreak. Women tend to over-think when they are sexually involved, so if you’re going to do a FWB relationship, really try to lighten up, take it at face value and enjoy it.

Consider Geographical Boundary

Living in a distant city might make a guy geographically undesirable as a boyfriend, it makes him the perfect FWB candidate. It can be especially great if one of you is in the other’s city often, either for business, family or you both travel the same conference circuit. The geographical boundary prevents you from trying to mold this into a more serious relationship. Distance also cuts down on those potential drama or awkward moments that can occur when your paths cross unexpectedly. When you live out of town, you also avoid opportunity of running into him with another woman he’s sleeping with.

Leave No Trace

It’s tempting to stash a few things at your FWB’s place so you don’t feel like a Sherpa, schlepping around everything, such a toothbrush, lipstick, hair gel, underwear…things you’ll need for the morning after. But when it comes to FWBs, it’s best to follow the golden rule of camping – Leave No Trace.

It is important to understand this is not your home, and you do not leave your stuff to mark territory at his place.

Stay Away From Holidays

Neither Thanksgiving turkey dinner nor Christmas celebration is part of the FWB job description. No birthday celebration, no Valentine’s Day, no wedding dancing partner, additionally you do not introduce your FWB to family and friends. This really muddies the waters and sends mixed messages to each other and outsiders. You do not want this start to look like dating.

However you may consider casual occasion, a pub crawl together for St. Patrick’s Day? Fine. Super Bowl Sunday? Knock yourself out. Go out with your single girlfriends for Valentine’s Day. It will keep the FWB status honest.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

You need to know the balance of how much to conceal and reveal. You might not want to hear all the juicy details of his other dates and you may want to keep mum about your own dates, too. Whether you choose full disclosure, don’t ask, don’t tell or something in between, info sharing should be part of your “ground rules” discussion. You may decide to keep your outside love lives to yourselves until one of you gets involved in a more serious relationship.

Small Gift

Consider a small, low-key  gift if you would like to give for his birthday or Christmas. Books, CDs or gift card for iTune. Do not give concert tickets or a weekend getaway at a charming B&B. Aim for non-romantic gifts that you’d give a friend and not to expect anything in return.

Be Safe And Responsible

Keep yourself safe and clean during sexual activities. Many STDs, including herpes, Chlamydia, hepatitis B and the human papilloma viruses that cause cancers and genital warts, are often silent infections, so your FWB could expose you without even realizing it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are 19 million new sexually transmitted infections each year. Consider that 19 million good reasons to carry and use your own condoms.

Microsoft Kinect is the Wii equivalent add-on to Xbox 360, which enables motion based control of your game. Kinext uses camera based sensors that work without user controller, leaving your hands free to play. Videogames that get you actively involved and moving around have been a big win on Wii and so it’s to no-one’s surprise that Microsoft has a big winner with Kinect. While Kinect has a variety of different types of games, we will focus on fitness and workout types in this article.

Fitness games like Your Shape are designed around cardio and Kinect Sports will merciless have you run in place and jump over hurdles. And yet full body training lurks everywhere throughout the Kinect fitness games lineup. Dance Central makes you jump from side to side while Happiness Ride has you leaning into turns and contorting your body to make your go-kart do stunt flips. Even the lovely bushy animals of Kinectimals don’t seem so cute anymore, once they drag you through a whole race course. Prepare to work up a sweat with the Kinect games as almost every single title Microsoft is showing for its new camera-based motion controller is indicated to work your whole body.

Kinect – Adventures

Kinect easily detects one or two players standing in front of it, and it knew how our individual bodies were moving. As we both stepped and leaned to the left and right, the movement’s translated the direction in which our inflatable raft was moving. If we jumped, we could propel the raft into the air, ride clouds, collect tokens and go on diverse paths through the river. We both rode on moving platforms, and had to jump, duck and move from side to side to refrain from obstacles, jumping up and contorting our bodies to collect tokens and reap more points. Jumping up and down let us gain speed in our efforts to race each other to the finish line. Adventures is likely the most intriguing and engaging use of the Kinect technology, since it fulfills that assurance of turning you into a videogame character. There’s a bit of lag and inaccuracy, but it doesn’t really affect the fun of the game.

Kinect – Your Shape Fitness Evolved

This game comes with hundreds of exercises, including a martial arts class lead by celebrity trainer Michael George, and a special class by Michelle Bridges. Players can download new content releases to ensure they always have new and exciting workouts. We were surprised at how the program kept us going and how demanding it became once we reached the advanced level. It is really quite entertaining and will make you come back for more. The “Personal Training” section lead us from easy routines to more demanding, time based exercises that made us feel the pain the next day. And even if you regularly visit the gym as we do, for the days when you just don’t have the time, use Fitness Evolved to get your heart beat up.

Kinect is a promising product that is a lot of fun. It takes the exciting controller based mechanism from Wii and makes it controller free. We can’t wait to see more exciting games for Kinect.

We all strive for affluence in one way or another. But only daily focus and adjusted lifestyle with set goals will ultimately get us to where we want, or get the things we desire.

This is an excerpt from Deepak Chopra’s book, which is an excellent guide on how to define and create affluence in life. A must read for any spiritual mind.

The Affluence Alphabet

A stands for all possibilities

absolute, authority, affluence, and abundance. From this level it is possible to create anything. This field is our own essential nature. It is our inner self. It is also called the absolute, and it is the ultimate authority. It is intrinsically affluence because it gives rise to the infinite diversity and abundance of the universe.

B stands for better

and best. People with wealth consciousness settle only for the best. The principle of highest first, go first class all the way and universe will respond by giving you the best.

C stands for carefree

and charity, it automatically lead to charity and sharing because source from within it all comes in infinite, unbounded, and inexhaustible. It is state of mind.

D stands law of demand

and supply. We are here to give, serve. When we are in dharma, we enjoy and love our work.

E stands for exulting

in the success of others, especially your competitors and those considered enemies, who will become your helper when you exult in their success. E also stands for the principle that expectancy determines outcomes. So always expect the best and you will see that the outcome is spontaneously contained in the expectation

F stands for failure

and the fact that in every failure is the seed of success. In the manifestation of the material from the non material, of the visible from the invisible, a fundamental mechanics is involved.

G stands for gratitude

generosity, god, gap, and goal. Step 1: you slip into the gap between thoughts. The gap is the window, the corridor, the transformational vortex through which the personal psyche communicates with the cosmic psyche. Step 2: you have a clear intention of a clear goal in the gap. Step 3: you relinquish your attachment to the outcome. Step 4: let universe handle the details.

It is important to have a clear goal, but it is also important to relinquish your attachment to the goal. And the goal is in the gap, and the gap is the potentiality to organize and orchestrate the details required to affect any outcome. One of easiest and most effortless way of slipping into the gap is through the process of meditation.

H stands for happiness

and humanity and the fact that we are here to make all humans we come into contact with happy. Go for happiness first and everything else will follow.

I stands for intention

and the power of unbending intent or intention. It is to make an unchangeable decision from which it is impossible to go back. It is single mindedness of purpose, well defined purpose not countermanded by any other conflicting desires or interests.

J stands for judge

and the fact that is it not necessary to judge. Experience silence in our consciousness, get away from definitions, labels, descriptions, interpretations, evaluations, analyses and judgments.

K stands for knowledge

and that fact that organizing power in inherent in knowledge. Knowledge of any kind gets metabolized spontaneously and brings about a change in awareness from where it is possible to create new realities.

L stands for love

and luxury. Love yourself, love your customers, love your family, and love everybody. Love the world. Adopt a luxury as a lifestyle, that sets the preamble, the preconditions and for the flow of wealth.

M stands for making money

for others and helping other make money. Also motivate other people to help you fulfill your goals is help them fulfill their goals.

N stands for negativity

and saying no to negativity. Whenever you have a negative thought say silently “next” and move on. Not being around negative people, who deplete your energy. Surround yourself with love and nourishment and do not allow the creation of negativity in your environment.

O stands for co-existence

and the fact that life is the coexistence of all opposite values. When there is quiet reconciliation, an acceptance in our awareness of this lively coexistence of all opposite values, then automatically we become more and more non judgmental. Also O means opportunity and opened and honest communication. Every contact with every human being is an opportunity for growth and the fulfillment of desire.

P stands for purpose

in life and for pure potentiality. My purpose in life is to heal, to make everyone I come into contact with happy, and create peace.

Q is to question:

question dogma, ideology, outside authority. What people take for granted what people hold to be true, that we can break through the hypnosis of social conditioning.

R stands for receiving

is as necessary as giving. To graciously receive is an expression of the dignity of giving.

S stands for spending

and service. Money is life energy that we exchange and use as a result of their service we provide to the universe. In order to keep it coming we must keep it circulating.

T stands for transcendence

timeless awareness, talent bank, and tithing. I fell that my experience of transcendence through the practice of meditation gives me an inner stability and silence that is not overshadowed by any activity. That silence stays with me so that no outer experience can overshadow the awareness and experience of the self. T also stands for timeless awareness, time-bound awareness occurs when we relinquish the self for the self image that is the social mask, the protective veneer behind which we hide. Our behavior is always influenced by the past and by anticipation and fear of the future, is burdened by guilt and sorrow, is rooted fear, it cause entropy, aging and heath.

U stands for understanding

the unity behind all diversity. Unity of consciousness is a state of enlightenment where we pierce the mask of illusion which creates separation and fragmentation. We experience unity consciousness when we are in love, when we are with nature gazing at stars or walking on the beach listening to music, in the silence of meditation. We slip through the barrier of time into the playground of eternity.

V stands for value:

truth, integrity, honesty, love, faith, devotion and beauty. “ when we feel beauty, we know it as truth”.

W stands for wealth

consciousness without worries. Truly wealthy people never worry about losing their money because they know that wherever money come from there is an inexhaustible supply of it.

X stands for expressing

honest appreciation and thanks to all how help us.

Y stands for youthful

vigor. We experience health when our identity of who we are comes from reference to the self, we fell energetic, we feel powerful, and experience youthful vigor. When we identify with objects, situations, circumstances, people, or things then we relinquish our energy to the object of reference, we feel lack of energy.

Z stands for zest

for life. To appreciate life in all its vitality and exuberance, to know that power is in the present moment, this is freedom, beyond the known of past conditioning beyond the prison of space, time and causation.

While most abdominal exercises are easy to perform, it is rather difficult to isolate the abdominal muscle and concentrate on them during the exercise. Most people do for example crunches and end up working on their back more than their abs!

That’s where abs workout equipment and isolating exercises come in. These machines and/or routines are supposed to keep your posture so that you will be forced to do it right. Good workout equipment locks you in and has you focus on the intended muscle group.  There are a variety of different equipment and exercises, and you should choose the one that best fits your personality.

While you train your muscles, pay close attention to what muscle group you feel, which muscles cause that little pain as they get tired. This will indicate whether or not you are training the muscles you actually intended to. For example, is your back hurting when you do abs crunches? If your answer is yes, you’re doing something wrong.

Also remember that proper nutrition, diet and consistent workouts are essential to an athletic body and rock hard abs.

Bicycle Exercise

While lying on the floor, lift your legs, bend the knees about 90 degrees. Now rotate your feet like you would riding a bike. Keep your arms on the floor to support your body and maintain balance. Do 3 sets of 30 reps. the audition, alternate between cyclic forward and backwards and take breaks between sets. If the exercise is done correctly, you will feel an increasing burn in your abdominal muscles.

Crazy Abs Home Gym

An affordable, yet powerful exercise machine is the Crazy Abs Home Gym. It got stellar reviews and can easily be done from home. It comes with a full manual and results will be visible if you use it regularly. Most people shy away from acquiring a large exercise equipment, but the advantage cannot be disputed. Make sure you read the instructions carefully and you will see results in no time. Not convinced yet, check out the reviews from actual users.

Ball Crunches

Ball crunches should be done with care, as to avoid straining your back. Lie with your lower back on the Exercise Ball while your feet rest on the floor. Cross your arms behind your head while curling up and down your upper body, focusing on the contraction or your abs. Repeat 3 sets of 12 reps. Alternatively, put your hands besides your butt to make the exercise more easy.

Vertical Leg Crunches

Much like the bicycle exercise, vertical leg crunches require balance and endurance. Lie on your back and extend the legs upwards towards the ceiling. While keeping your legs stationary, put your arms behind your neck and pull up the shoulders toward the ceiling. Repeat for 3 sets 12 to 16 reps. Alternatively, put your feet on the floor and close to your butt, now pull up your upper body towards the ceiling without lifting the lower back off the floor.

Romantic Gift Ideas

are hard to find, as we wade thru the tough search for the perfect, romantic gift for your significant other. But there’s probably no greater joy than giving a romantic present to the one you love. Everyone loves receiving gifts, especially when received from a significant other. Choosing the right gift for someone special can also be tricky, so as to not overdue it or get too tacky.

Get creative and think outside the box and you will give a gift that is sure to please. Keep these romantic gift-giving ideas handy the next time you shop for your loved one.

Weekend Adventure for the two of you

Take your gift-giving on the road with a weekend departure for two. Find a romantic cottage in the forest or a beach bungalow on a tropical island. Make reservations, buy two airplane tickets and carry your significant other away for a weekend he won’t soon forget.

The perfect Candlelight Dinner

Nothing beats a surprise for your love with a candlelight dinner for two at her/his favorite restaurant. Just make sure you plan and prepare, nothing worse than showing up and the restaurant is booked. Even more romantic, if you have some culinary skills, provide an exquisite home-cooked meal prepared to perfection with a good wine, candles and warming background music when she/he comes home after a hard day’s work.

Relaxation Basket for a soothing, relaxing bath

Pamper your mate with a basket full of exotic and sensual goodies. You can stuff it with things like a plush, a comfy robe, velvet slippers, good smelling bubble bath, aromatherapy candles and/or a gift certificate to her/his favorite spa.

Or if you’re too busy to make your worn, get our favorite Green Tea Zen Calming Spa Bath and Body Set delivered to your home. To create extra romance, prepare a hot bubble bath, light candles and incents and give a relaxing massage yourself.

All Natural Massage Oil With Candles

Whether at home or on a romantic trip, this natural massage set tops it off with it’s exotic smell of a combination of peppermint, eucalyptus, basil, rosewood, chamomile and lavender.

Light the candle to enjoy the wonderful scent. Extinguish flame, then use as a warm massage oil. Premium, food-grade ingredients and the wax’s low melting point mean the product is entirely skin-safe. All-natural blended wax massage candles, fragranced with a premium blend of the finest essential oils, NO chemicals like many other brands

Dwarf 360 Degree USB Omni Speaker

There is only so much space on your desk and speaker of that size have much to desire as far as sond quality and bass.

In addition, the main disadvantage of your everyday speaker is that they are virtually sending sound in one direction only. Turn the speaker slightly away from you or step to the side of it, or simply put them out of center and it can sound like it’s on the other side of a wall and the stereo balance is off.

360 degrees of sound is just one cool feature of the USA Navy designed Dwarf 360° Omni-Directional USB Powered Speakers. That’s right. You’d think the Navy would be working on torpedoes and periscopes. Instead they’ve been tweaking speakers to create the ultimate submarine dance-parties.

The Dwarf is the perfect gift idea, is small and can fit anywhere, from your desk, to a table, to the fireplace mantle. But to utilize the 360 degrees of sound you’ll want to put this right in the center of your place. The speakers can hook to an iPod, iPhone, PC, laptop, DVD player, CD, or MP3 players so you’re covered wherever you do end up putting it. And here’s the vibrating part: whatever the dwarf sits on, it will vibrate and use to amplify sound. Try it on a wood table, a glass table, the floor, your cat! Each will produce a different quality sound.

Best of all, the Dwarf 360 Omni is probably the most interesting computer speaker out there, and it looks great!

The Dwarf includes a USB cable and a mini-USB port. Perhaps best of all, they only cost around $25. The perfect birthday, fathers day or holiday gift? We think so.

Check them out

Are you a coffee addict like me that needs at least 3 runs per day to your favorite coffee shop,  just to stay alive? Yes, I’ve been a slave to coffee addiction for as long as I can think back, and I just love my white foamed, heavenly smelling cup of coffee.

The only part about my daily routing that has changed is that I replaced the trip to Starbucks with a trip to my coffee machine in my kitchen. And I’ve been rewarded with an even better tasting brew while saving a ton of cash. Now you say, “I’m not craving a regular drip, I need a real latte!”.

Don’t fret, just bare with me and I promise you heaven in coffee land.

Coffee machine

First off, you will need a coffee machine. No Panic! You can get started with a simple, small yet very capable espresso machine for around 40 bucks. I really like the Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Maker as this one also provides the steam for that delicious milky foam. And for that part you probably also want to get a Stainless-Steel Milk Frothing Pitcher. Now the only part missing is the coffee beans itself. And opinions differ greatly in that department, so I give you my take on it and encourage you to play and vary until you find your own favorite.

The most touted coffee brand is Scuro from Illy and you’re looking at around $15 per 100 grams. But my favorite coffee which I’m drinking for year is Lavazza Qualita Oro Espresso. Like Illy, both come ground and vacuum sealed in a can, so they keep their flavor and you don’t have to grind the beans. And you can get the Lavazza for about half the price.

Brew the perfect coffee latte

Ok, you’re equipped and ready for action. Use filtered (or bottled) water and fill the little can that came with the machine to the marker. I always go for the 2 cup marker. Unscrew the top and pour in the water and tighten the top again. Then fill the little coffee filter cup to the upper marker, using a little spoon and tighten the coffee by slightly pushing it down until firm. With a push up and twist, firmly put the coffee handle in place. Follow the machine’s instruction for this part. Turn on the power switch.

Steam that delicious milk foam

Expert Tip: As you become a master brewer, you’ll find it much easier to steam your milk while the coffee is half way dripping from the filter. This way you don’t have to run a second cycle just to steam the milk.

Mix the perfect mocha latte

Now pour your milk with that delicious foam into a big nice cup, add the coffee and any of your favorite flavors to it and enjoy the best brew you’ve ever had.