Food for Thought, Or in This Case Gifts!

By Ashley Posimato

Freshly blooming romance?  Long time lovers?  There is one day (and one day only) where any age-determined label attributed to your relationship suddenly becomes insignificant.  For all people, in all stages of the game, the mere mention of this date evokes an array of emotions.  Valentine’s Day is happy and sad, it’s special and depressing, it’s a moment to celebrate and a moment to mourn; a day that in one way or another challenges us to feel.

But long before the various effects of this holiday are determined, there is one preparatory question penetrating the minds of romantics everywhere: What in the world do I buy?

Because on this very important day, gifts are not only symbols of affection- they’re deal breakers. And for college kids who have been struggling financially long before the economy dipped so low, finding the perfect gift is not an easy task.

However some of the ladies at Marist College seemed to have cooked up some good ideas.  Davia Spado and Courtney Miskel, both juniors at Marist College, say that although it is easy to fall victim to the commercialized prices of the holiday, just a little thought and a lot of sugar can make this special night extra sweet without the extra spending.

“My boyfriend was coming all the way from home to see me,” Miskel said. “To show my appreciation, I made a red velvet layer cake.  It took me nearly three hours but it was something we enjoyed together and what’s better than that?”

Spado, after hearing of her friend’s idea, decided to do something similar for her special someone.

“Courtney’s decision to bake was inspiring,” Spado said. “So rather than spend money to show my affection, I showed him through my hard work.  I made bread pudding for the first time, and I have to say I was just as pleased as he was!”

And these two couples were not the only ones putting on their aprons and heating up the kitchen.

Bethanne Tantillo and Justin Sous, also juniors at Marist College, have been dating for over a year and agreed to rely on their creativity, and a well-equipped kitchen, to make their night successful.

“I just spent so much money on him for Christmas and I couldn’t do it again,”  Tantillo said.  “So I called his mom and got the recipe for his favorite dinner…he loved it!”

Dining-in saved them the aggravation of an inflated check for a (mediocre at best) pre-fixed menu they would have been forced to order from; staying home allowed them to work together and really enjoy each other.

Cooking from the heart. Photo: Heliotrop3 flickr.com

“She told me what I needed to get, where I had to put it, and then corrected me when I did it wrong,” Sous said. “We did more laughing around the kitchen, and had a much better meal then any over priced restaurant.”

These two young lovers  prove that budgeted romance is not only doable- it’s fun!

“Justin is always so good to me,” Tanillo said, “I was happy to do something nice for him.”

“Now I know two important things” Sous said. “One, that amount of money you spend doesn’t matter[...]and two, that my girl can cook!”

Say “I heart you” with chocolate: The benefits of eating chocolate

By Cynthia Dagenais

Valentine’s Day: red and pink, biggest date night of the year, hearts, kisses, flowers. But most of all, chocolate!

Valentine's Day chocolates for the Nintendo players

For all those people out there that popped a few more chocolate pieces from cardboard heart-shaped boxes than their winter diet allowed, no need to worry. There are naturally more benefits to this candy than you think.

When asked why he eats chocolate, Marist College student Nicholas Palumbo said, “Well, I actually eat a handful of M&M’s before a huge exam because of the multiple benefits that come with chocolate.”

Chocolate comes from the cacao plant, which is grown in the tropical regions of the Americas. The beans are roasted and the shells are removed to extract what is called the nib. The nibs are ground and liquefied, resulting in chocolate in a fluid form.

This fluid is also known as chocolate liquor, which can be further processed into cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Add sugar and other ingredients and voila! Chocolate! Click here to watch how chocolate is made.

Chocolate contains many different chemicals that can boost your mood. Chocolate contains a number of substances that give ‘natural highs’, including caffeine, theobromine and phenylethylamine. This chemical is produced by the body when people are in love.

Neurophysiologist Dr. David Lewis led a study to find out the physiological effects of chocolate on kissing couples. His study found that when chocolate melts in the mouth, all regions of the brain are boosted far more intensely and longer lasting than the excitement produced by just kissing alone. It’s no wonder why giving chocolate is such a popular way to say “I love you.”

Other studies have shown that chocolate can help people suffering from depression. According to anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com, participants in the study with atypical depression, one of the most common types of depression, felt that chocolate had a positive effect on their feelings of irritability, sadness, and anxiety.

Dark chocolate is the healthiest choice. Dark chocolate contains more cacao, which has natural antioxidants called flavonoids that studies have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the BNet Business Management website.

Milk chocolate, though it contains cacao like its sister, dark chocolate, contains more milk and sugar, which can inhibit the antioxidants from lowering high blood pressure that leads to heart problems, according to WebMD.com.

“Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate … and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate,” said Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome.

Mars, Inc., the maker of the popular candy M&Ms, is currently funding chocolate research to improve the health benefits of their candies.

Because of the numerous studies being done on the health benefits of chocolate, Mars, Inc. recently developed a process to preserve the flavonoids in their candies that have in the past been unintentionally taken out of in the chocolate-making process.

Research is currently being done on the effects of chocolate for women suffering from PMS, dieting, hormone levels, concentration for taking exams, and other health concerns.

In summary, chocolate provides a healthy heart, more stimulation in the brain for kissing, and a natural high; three things that are perfect for setting the mood on Valentine’s Day.

Say “I Love You,” in a Modern Way

By: Stephanie Espina

If you are wondering how to challenge your creativity this Valentine’s Day, why not dive into the innovative and ever changing world of technology and electronics? Sure, you can settle for the box of chocolates and store-bought flowers, but it won’t hurt to get with the times and try something new.

To find unique buys for this Valentine’s Day, you don’t even have to walk away from your computer screen. Here are some great deals on some of the hottest items that make perfect gifts, and they all can be found online!

It’s never a bad idea to give someone the gift of music, especially if they don’t already have a portable playing device. The SanDisk Sansa E260 MP3 Player serves the same purposes as your typical iPod and then some. The E260 functions as an audio player, photo viewer, video player and radio. This gift is ideal for a person who is on-the-go or simply enjoys listening to their favorite tunes. The lowest prices can be found at Amazon.com. Best offered price: $59.75.

For someone who likes to cherish memories through photographs, a digital frame would be the perfect choice. These frames change with the click of a remote or automatically, in seconds. All you have to do is insert a memory card that holds your pictures. This Kodak EasyShare frame lets you decide how you want to display your pictures: horizontally or vertically. It’s the modern day scrapbook, allowing you to organize your photos however you like. Gather up some memorable photographs to personally install yourself before that picture perfect moment. This digital frame sells for just $69.95 at Kodak.com.

Steer someone in the right direction this Valentine’s Day by getting that special someone a GPS navigation system. GPS stands for Global Positioning System and uses satellite technology to help you get around. It saves previous destinations you have searched and offers alternate directions if you miss an instruction. These devices tend to be sell on the expensive side but this Magellan Maestro Portable Automotive GPS sells for $81.95. This price can be found at NexTag.com. With this gift, you can literally show your valentine the way to your heart!

Is your valentine into having fun while keeping active? Nintendo’s Wii fit combines the joys of gaming with working out. Various activities will have you sweating including yoga, snowboarding, running and extreme hoola hoop. If this won’t keep them on their feet then maybe this newly designed weight board will. This technology allows the programs to recognize you as a player, determine your weight and weight loss goals and track progress. This gift is is ideal for someone who already has the Wii Gaming System. Wii Fit sells for just $89.99 at Nintendo.com.

After a long day at work, or even at work, anyone can use a quality massage. Now you can get one and bring one with you wherever you go. The iNeed Lumbar Massager contains four dual-rotating massage nodes that give off a kneading sensation similar to that of the traditional Shiatsu massage. No batteries are needed for this device, instead, you can simply plug it in. This device comes with its own carrying case, so you won’t have to give away your happy secret. The iNeed Lumbar Massager is on sale now at Brookstone stores near you for just $59.95.

For more  tech savvy gift ideas, check out this video Mahalo’s Daily Top 10 Tech Gifts of 2008:

*All images found on Google Images