I have been reading that yogurt is a great healthy snack that I should probably start eating. I have been getting better on my snacking habits; I have substituted grapes and string cheese for candy bars and chips, but it never hurts to try something new. But there are so many yogurts out there all claiming to be the best for you, so it’s a little overwhelming looking at all the choices in the grocery aisle. The April edition of Fitness magazine helps answer a few of those questions with their Eat Right section. They highlight yogurt, and even have a ‘what to look for’ box that lists the most important factors in your selection process. The guidelines, for a 6 ounce serving of yogurt, are as follows: 100-150 calories 3.5 grams of fat or less 2 grams or less of saturated fat At least 8 to 10 grams of protein 20 grams or less of sugar At least 20% of your daily value of calcium At least 20% of your daily value of vitamin D
Q: You have works published with a variety of topics: beauty, health, fitness, travel, etc. Where do you gain all the knowledge to write on these subjects? I always do lots of research, but to me it’s fun digging into fields that I’m personally interested in. Q: Do you have one favorite subject that you write about? My background is in nutrition, so healthy eating is of particular interest to me. Q: I just finished reading Fat Chance. Where did the inspiration for Maggie’s character come from? Maggie’s a character who’s close to my heart because she suffers from vanity issues, as I think all women do, whether or not they are overweight. To me the book is about the larger issue of self-acceptance, not just about what the scale reads. Q: Did you study journalism in college? I wasn’t able to find what you majored in! No, I majored in English. Q: You don’t only write books for adults, you have published books for young adults and children. How do you find the ideas to write for so many different audiences? When you’re a writer the ideas are everywhere. I try to read a lot of newspapers and magazines, and often the ideas come from the short, off-beat little items. Q: How were you able to break into the writing industry? Actually I married a journalist and I began to see the world the way he does and see news stories everywhere. Q: I saw that you hold reading and writing workshops at schools and libraries. Why do you think this is important to do? Writing is such a lonely profession that it’s fun and inspiring to get away from the computer and interact with real people. When I go to schools I learn so much from kids about what works and what doesn’t in terms of picture books. Q: You are not only a journalist and published author, but a nutritionist. In your opinion, what do you think is one of the most important nutrition lessons we should be aware of? I think of food as medicine and believe that we have a great deal of control over our own health. I also think we have to respect the body and give it the best possible food,. Q: What would be your best advice for aspiring writers? Keep reading, and closely examine your favorite books to find out how the authors tell the stories and create the characters. Also, force yourself to sit down every day and write. Q: What would be your favorite place to vacation to? Venice!
The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is an open-eyed peek at the lives of six very different women. The group of college friends, or sucia’s, as they call themselves, are all trying to figure out their loves lives and find a promising career, but none have it easy. Lauren, a feisty columnist, is struggling with her love life after finding her fiancée cheating on her. Usnavys, a successful executive for United Way, is trying to find a man that will be able to meet her pricey expectations of lavish vacations and designer clothes. Rebecca is miserable in her stiff marriage, and uses her job as founder and editor of a Latina women’s magazine as comfort. Elizabeth works as a prominent TV anchor, but is hiding the fact that she is a lesbian from her friends. Amber is trying to make it in the entertainment biz as a performer, and Sara is hiding a frightening secret in her home life. Dirty Girls offers readers steamy romance scenes, heartwarming love stories, and enough drama to make your head spin. The ending is particularly intense with a murder that lands one of the characters in a coma, but the beginning was a little shaky for me. I actually read these novels out of order; I read the sequel to Dirty Girls, Dirty Girls on Top, before this one, and that novel is what really kept me going through the slow beginning of its prequel. If I didn’t already have a background on the characters and had fallen in love with their stories, I would have been really tempted to give up on Dirty Girls. I am glad that I didn’t though, once you get passed the rocky beginning and get into the real dramatic scenarios, the novel becomes almost irresistible to put down.
Does this mean she is going to be back on the party scene/tabloid covers? I hope not. After 14 months of dating, the relationship between Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt has ended. Hilton’s rep confirmed the split to People.com, saying, “The relationship between Paris and Doug is over. She broke up with him more than two weeks ago.”
Another long-term Hollywood couple has called it quits. Melissa and Tammy Etheridge have split after a 9 year relationship. Melissa’s rep told People.com, “Melissa and Tammy Etheridge are saddened to announce that they are now separated.” The couple exchanged vows in 2003 and have two children together- twins Miller and Johnnie Rose.
On Thursday, May 13th, best-selling author Jennifer Weiner will be speaking, answering questions, and signing books at BORDERS (10 Columbus Circle) at 7:00PM. WHO: Best-selling author Jennifer Weiner WHAT: Jennifer Weiner will be speaking, answering questions and signing books from her New York Times #1 bestselling novel - Best Friends Forever WHERE: BORDERS # 592 – 10 Columbus Circle – NYC WHEN: Thursday, May 13th at 7:00PM
