Eating Healthy for Students

For students, eating healthy at college is an entire new ball game. With late night pizza delivery and midnight Chinese food runs, avoiding the freshman 15 can be pretty difficult.  Even though some of these quick and simple options taste great, chances are they are probably not healthy for a student's body. I know from personal experience, that around 11 pm, my body is craving something sweet and fatty.

The Perfect Thanksgiving Meal to Complement the Endless Supply of NFL Games

Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays of the year, not because of an endless dosage of NFL football, but for the endless supply of delicious food. This year, I was lucky enough to enjoy a fantastic Thanksgiving meal by my mom. And I must say, it was nothing short of delicious.  The food prepared looked so good that I decided to take a snapshot. My meal consisted of fresh corn, homemade stuffing, string beans with smoked prosciutto ham, silky mash potatoes, maple glazed boned ham, and tender smoked turkey- all topped off with a creamy gravy. It truly was delicious. 

The Wonderful World of Coca Cola

I was just going through my camera and I found some pics that I took at the Wonderful World of Coca Cola in Atlanta, Ga.  So I'd figured I just share some of my memories. The best part of this tour is the last part which is when you experience the tasting center. Here you can try all of Coca Cola's products from all around the world. It's pretty cool because there is a station for each continent and all the special drinks are showcased. The best part is that it's all-you-can-drink! I must say that I was beyond full when I left this wonderful world of Coke.

The Best Restaurants and Buffets in Las Vegas

If you are like me, then you are probably a huge foodie. And in my opinion, there’s no better place to experience some fantastic dishes and unique cuisines than in the dazzling city of Las Vegas. “Whether you love the traditional burgers and fries or you prefer the Wagyu Beef and caviar, Las Vegas has it all.  From casual and quick eats to buffets and fine dining, there’s a place for you.  Carla Pellegrino, Charlie Palmer, Wolfgang Puck, Joel Robuchon, Michael Mina, Bobby Flay and Batali Bartollota- you name it and Vegas has it. This is possibly one of the greatest places for foodies and gourmet indulgers.  So don’t be shy, go ahead and try it all!” – Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas

Well in case you were wondering, you can find the best buffets, casual restaurants, fine dining establishments, and more, all in my new eBook, the Under 21 Guide to Las Vegas. In this guide you will find the best attractions, restaurants, shopping, spas, outdoor activities, and shows that are great for those less than 21 years old.  You see, I understand that there are many guidebooks out there about Las Vegas, but unfortunately they truly only focus on the people who can gamble, party, drink, etc…Some guidebooks do talk about kids in Las Vegas but they are missing that one particular group, the 18-20 crowd.  That’s why it is my goal to provide you with the best information to help you make the most out of your Las Vegas trip.  From little kids to young adults, this book is the ultimate guide for the under 21 crowd. I even hid a few little surprises and secrets. So let’s find those surprises. Come on in!

This is the perfect travel companion for those who are looking for a different perspective of Las Vegas, as well as a nice listing of the best casual, themed, fine, and all-you-can-eat restaurants. To enter this food haven, click HERE (of just click on the picture of the book)

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Dinner Etiquette: The 10 Do's at the Dinner Table

We've all been there, sharing a pleasant meal at a fine and elegant restaurant with someone who had a tremendous lack of good manners. And we don’t want to find ourselves being “that guy” (or girl) who has no common sense when it comes to proper dinner table manners. You see, using good table manners and etiquette shows a great respect for your fellow diners. Even in today’s typical casual dining atmosphere, displaying just basic table manners is essential. You need to make sure that your manners are in check cause just your luck, you might be on a nice date or having lunch with your boss and co-worker. Therefore, you need to make sure that your eating and dining habits are deemed acceptable. Well to help make this possible, here are 10 things that you need to do to ensure that you’re practicing proper table manners. 

Dinner Etiquette: The 10 Don'ts at the Dinner Table

Have you ever been to a restaurant and eaten with a person who had no sense of dinner etiquette whatsoever? I have. They're chewing with their mouths open making weird noises, while essentially screaming at you from across the table. And I must say I really don't like this at all! Like I don't know whether to be embarrassed for being in their presence or just feel embarrassed for that person. Well either way, it's not a good feeling. Well to help make sure that you aren't "that guy (or girl)" who seems to embarrass your dining guest here's your life saver. Here are 10 things that you should never do at a dinner table because they are considered bad manners, some more than others. 

A One of a Kind Pastry Experience

It's only fitting for two world-class Five Diamond resorts to have their own World Pastry Champion. Nestled in the Aria Las Vegas and the Bellagio is Jean Philippe Patisserie. The artistic genius of Chef Jean-Philippe Maury is displayed daily at Las Vegas' first truly European-style pastry shops. You'll be welcomed into this imaginative display by a breathtaking chocolate fountain and large elegant designer cakes. Pastries, desserts, and snacks include carefully crafted chocolates, cookies, freshly made crepes, salads, sandwiches and delicious drinks. This is my favorite dessert place in all of Las Vegas. Be sure to try one of the fresh made crepes made to your order. It truly is a luscious experience that just can't be missed.

College Kid Budget: $-$$

Things To Do
Las Vegas

Dinner Etiquette: Attending a Gathering

For some of us, there are normally times when a friend invites you to dinner, whether it be at their house or at a restaurant.  And if you are like me, you may sometimes forget just the basics of proper dinner etiquette, when it comes to responding and attending this gathering. Well as a little refresher, I would like to help by providing you with five simple, good manners that you should use when going to a restaurant or house when invited.

Always respond to an invitation within a week of receiving. This shows a great deal of respect towards the host, showing that you truly want to participate in their gathering.

Dress according to the recommended dress code, such as fine, casual, or business casual. However, never try to out- dress the hostess!!

Be on time. There is nothing more annoying for a host or hostess than late guests

If you decide to bring a guest or partner, be sure to check with your hostess to see if it’s acceptable. You don't want to catch the host off guard by bringing a guest. Plus, the guest may be someone the host doesn't like. You never know.

If possible, bring a small gift as a considerate gesture. Gifts include flowers, chocolates, wine, or champagne or anything you believe may please the host and hostess.

My "Grade Saver" Energy Drink of Choice

After an all nighter of preparing for a speech that I needed to give for my communications class, I found myself in probably the worse mental and physical condition that any college student should face- extreme tiredness. So in order for me to be at the top of my game, I decided to give one of those 5 Hour Energy type things a shot. Now although I didn't have an authentic 5 Hour Energy, I did however have this weird, unique, and new thing in my backpack called Worx Energy. I've never heard of this company before, so I was a little skeptical about it at first. But hey, it was free, so I decided to put the welfare of my speech into the hands of Worx Energy. And thankfully, it did its job. This sour, citrus-like energy with a sharp bitter aftertaste was exactly what I needed to be at the top of my game. Worx Energy is now my energy drink of choice whenever I need that extra boost.

(Just in case you were wondering, I got a 95% on my speech!)

Ming's Restaurant in Chinatown DC

After an afternoon of checking out all the major and historical sites and sounds Washington D.C. has to offer, a group of my friends and I decided to grab dinner at Chinatown. After a few minutes of strolling down the streets and checking out all the menus, we decided to give Ming’s Restaurant a try. Ming’s is a very nice restaurant with modern décor and a warm and cozy atmosphere. The menu was very extensive and included so unusual dishes such jelly fish and duck feet. For some reason, I had the urge to try something exotic and unique, but I decided to stick with an old school dish that I knew would always be good, orange chicken. The orange chicken had a crispy and spicy outside, but a warm and tender inside, both of which made this dish so delicious. It tasted a lot more authentic than the fare you would get from like Panda Express or some other mainstream/franchised Chinese restaurant. Other people in my group got beef and broccoli, kung pao chicken, and chicken and broccoli.  We all tried each other’s dishes and they were all surprisingly very good. In terms of service, our waitress was on the ball and she made sure to keep our glasses full throughout the dinner. So overall, Ming’s was a surprisingly delicious Chinese restaurant that I will definitely go back to whenever I’m in Chinatown again. The prices were very affordable and the food was plentiful and delicious.

College Kid Budget: $$

Washington DC Vacations