How to Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Posted: 01 Nov 2018 01:00 AM PDT Día de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Latin American countries and is especially popular in Mexico. This special holiday, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd each year, honors the lives of people who have died. It is believed that the souls of the dead come back to visit their loved ones at this time. Contrary to popular belief, Día de los Muertos is not a sad or depressing time, but a time of happiness and celebration of life! EditHonoring Your Loved Ones - Make an altar for the deceased. You can create an altar for just one person or an altar for many people. Fill the altar with favorite foods and trinkets that the people enjoyed in their lifetime. Decorate it with candles, flowers, and a framed photo of the person or people you are remembering. Spend time at the altar, telling fond and humorous stories about the deceased.[1]
- Many people choose to pray, and add a Christian cross and statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the altar.
- Catrina figures (a costumed female with a skeleton face) are popular decorations for altars.
- Visit the graves of your loved ones. Clean and decorate the grave with ofrendas (offerings) like "cempasúchitl" (orange marigolds) or "Flor de Muerto" ("Flower of the Dead"), which are thought to attract souls of the dead. You can even make a path from flower petals from the grave to your home to help your loved ones find their way. Lay down trinkets and the deceased's favorite candies.[2]
- Usually, deceased children are honored on November 1, while deceased adults are honored on November 2.
- For children (los angelitos or little angels) bring toys and sugar skulls; for adults, bring bottles of their favorite alcoholic beverage (tequila, mezcal, pulque).
- You can visit the graves of your loved ones any time during the holiday, or even spend all night in the cemetery eating, drinking, talking, playing cards, and listening to music.
- Set out pillows and blankets in your home. Traditionally, people celebrating Día de los Muertos arrange a pillow and blanket for each of their deceased loved ones in their home. This is so that the spirits of the dead can rest after their journey, as they are believed to visit their loved ones during this time.[3]
- Play music. Listen to live mariachi music or play your loved one's favorite songs or recordings. Enjoy the music and celebrate the life of the deceased. Some people even have parades through the graveyard, and play music, dance, and celebrate while stopping at the gravestones of each of their loved ones.[4]
- Write calaveras literarias. Calaveras literarias ("literary skulls"), also known as panteones, are short poems written in the form of epitaphs. These poems are satirical or funny, and often poke fun at your loved ones' quirks or embarrassing moments. You can even illustrate your poem with pictures of your loved one or of Dapper Death and his Dame.[5]
- Traditionally, calaveras literarias were written in four-line stanzas in which the second line rhymes with the last line, or five-line stanzas in which the third line rhymes with the last line. In modern times, many of these poems are written in blank verse and are no longer than one page.[6]
- For instance, if your loved one was a poor bullfighter, you could write a short poem in which they struggle or fail during a bullfight. Humor often plays a large role in the calaveras literarias.
- Make Day of the Dead masks. This is a great activity for children on Día de los Muertos. Draw a skull or trace a template you find online. Decorate the mask in a traditional style, or create your own designs. Cut out the mask, punch a hole on either side, and attach a string to each hole. Tie the mask around your head and head out to celebrate.[7]
- Masks can be either half- or full-face. Traditional designs include skulls and flowers.
- You can use crayons, markers, puffy paint, glitter glue, etc., to decorate your mask as you wish.
- Wear Day of the Dead makeup. Many people like to wear makeup that is reminiscent of a sugar skull on the Day of the Dead. Paint your face white, then add large colored circles around your eyes. You can draw "stitches" on your lips and extending out from your mouth. Paint on a nose, and add decorations like flowers or spiderwebs to your face.[8]
- Dress in costume for the holiday. Nowadays, many people wear items of clothing decorated with sugar skulls or skeleton prints, such as shirts, dresses, or leggings on Día de los Muertos. You can also wear shells and dance so that the noisiness "wakes up" the dead, or even dress up as the deceased.[9]
- Some women also dress as Calavera Catrina in long, flowing, brightly-colored lace dresses paired with flower crowns and sugar skull makeup.
- Sometimes, children dress in costume and ask people on the street for a calaverita (a small gift of money). Unlike Halloween, though, they don't knock on doors.
EditMaking Ofrendas (Offerings) - Prepare a special dinner. Include a plate setting for every person whose memory you wish to honor and include a favorite dish of theirs in your dinner. Invite your family to celebrate with you and tell stories about your deceased loved ones. Popular offerings include calaveras, calabaza en tacha, atole, and pan de muerto.[10]
- Create calaveras. Calaveras are Mexican sugar skulls. This is a fun activity for the whole family, and especially fun to eat, as calaveras are offered to both the living and the dead. To make your own, mix 1 teaspoon (4.93 mL) of meringue powder with 1 cup (237 mL) of granulated sugar, then add 1 teaspoon (4.93 mL) of water, and mix well. Pack the mixture into a mold and let dry overnight.[11]
- Decorate the calaveras using colored icing, sequins, feathers, and more.
- You can also buy the sugar skulls "ready made" and then decorate them.
- Make calabaza en tacha. Calabaza en tacha (candied pumpkin) is a popular and traditional dish for Día de los Muertos. In a large saucepan, bring 2 pounds (0.907 kg) piloncillo, 4 cinnamon sticks, 4 cups (1 liter) of water, and the juice and zest from 1 orange to a boil. Add the flesh of one 5-pound (2.25 kg) pumpkin, cut into strips. Simmer an hour or two until tender, then serve.[12]
- Piloncillo is Mexican unrefined brown sugar; to substitute, you can mix 2 teaspoons (9.86 mL) molasses with every 1/4 cup (59 mL) of brown sugar.
- This recipe yields 6-8 servings of calabaza en tacha.
- Serve atole. Atole is a warm porridge-like drink made from masa. To make it, blend 1/2 cup (118 mL) fresh masa with 1/4 cup (59 mL) hot water. Transfer it to saucepan, add a cinnamon stick and the seeds from one vanilla bean, and stir until it thickens. Mix in 3-4 tablespoons (44-59 mL) piloncillo until it dissolves, then remove from heat. Remove the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean seeds.[13]
- You can serve atole as is, or choose to add 1 cup (237 mL) of pureed fruit, such as pineapple or strawberries, to your dish before serving.
- This recipe yields 5-6 servings of atole.
- Mix the dough for pan de muerto. Pan de muerto ("bread of the dead") is a sweet egg bread made in various shapes. This is a traditional Día de Los Muertos dish and is a fun activity for the family to do together. To make it:[14]
- Stir 1/2 packet (3.5 g) active-dry yeast and 1/4 cup (59 mL) warm water in a large bowl and allow it to rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat 1/4 cup (59 mL) La Lechera sweetened condensed milk and 1/4 cup (1/2 stick or 59 mL) unsalted butter over medium heat until the butter is melted.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon (2.46 mL) anise seeds, 1/4 teaspoon (1.23 mL) salt, and the La Lechera mixture to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
- Add 2 large eggs and 1 cup (237 mL) flour and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Add 1 ¼ cups (296 mL) flour, in small increments, stirring well until the dough comes together.
- Knead the dough. Knead the dough gently for about 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic and no longer sticky.
- Place dough in a large greased bowl and cover it with greased plastic wrap.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape the dough. Arrange the dough into a loaf or a shape such as a skull or an angel.[15]
- To make a skull, remove 3 tablespoons (44.36 mL) of dough and form each into a ball. Shape the larger dough into a loaf.
- Roll 2 of the balls into long worm shapes to form the bones on top of the bread. Drape the 2 worms-shaped dough pieces on top of the loaf to form an "X."
- Form the remaining ball into a skeleton head and gently place it on top of the "X."
- Bake your pan de muerto. Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet and allow it to rise in warm place for about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176.6 degrees C).
- Brush the top of the loaf with egg wash made from 1 egg yolk beaten with 2 teaspoons (9.86 mL) water.
- Bake for 20 minutes; then remove the loaf from the oven and brush again with egg wash. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon (14.79 mL) granulated sugar.
- Return it to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Serve warm or cool completely.
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How to Hide Candy in Your Room Posted: 31 Oct 2018 05:00 PM PDT Candy is a great treat, but some parents can be strict. If your parents don't let you have candy (or if you have siblings who try to eat all your candy before you do), the best thing you can do is hide it. A good hiding place can keep your secret candy stash filled for weeks to come. A bad hiding spot can not only get you caught and in trouble, but it can get your candy taken away! Not every hiding spot will work for everyone, however, and how long you are able to keep your secret really depends in your hiding skills, and your parents' finding skills. EditFinding Good Hiding Places - Hide your candy in layers. The longer it takes to get to your candy, the harder it will be to find. For example, your sock drawer may not be a good idea. All someone has to do is open up the drawer and see the candy. A better idea would be inside one of your socks. This way, whoever opens up your sock drawer won't be able to see your candy right away—they will have to dig through your socks first.
- Make your candy hard to get to. Similar to hiding your candy in layers, the longer it takes to get to your candy, the less likely someone will find it. Great places include under your clothes in a drawer, far under your bed, in a box at the very top of your shelf, and so forth.
- Hide your candy in different spots. The saying "don't put all of your eggs into one basket" exists for a reason. If you hide all of your candy in one spot, and someone finds it, you might end up with no candy. Try to hide your candy in at least two different places.
- Don't hide your candy too close together. For example, if you have some candy tucked away into your socks in one drawer, don't hide the rest of your candy in the next drawer.
- Don't hide your candy in places that get warm. This includes next to windows, near heaters, or close to lights. The reason for this is simple: candy melts if it gets hot. A good hiding place won't be of much use to you if you can't eat the candy later on. Not to mention, melted candy can create a mess, and messes attract attention.
- Skip the obvious hiding places. Lockers, safes, and piggy banks are all popular hiding places—and this means that they are obvious hiding places. Shoe boxes that say "TOP SECRET" or "KEEP OUT" are also bad choices, because they draw attention and curiosity. Your friends and siblings would be more likely to go through these boxes.
EditUsing What You Have - Try using what you have at home. You don't have to make a secret cubby to hide your candy. You can use what you have in your room, such as a sock drawer or tissue box. This section will give you a few ideas on where you can hide candy in your room.
- Hide your candy in the bottom of a tissue box. Find a tissue box, then carefully lift out the entire stack of tissues. Place your candy in a thin layer along the bottom, then place the stack of tissues back. Pull out the first tissue—this will make it look like the tissues are "in use."
- Try hiding your candy inside your pillowcase. This only works for a short while, and you have to take the candy out before you go to sleep. Keep the candy on the bottom of the pillow case—the side that is touching the mattress. If you put it in the top, the candy will make lumps, and give your secret away.
- Hide candy inside your clothes. Find a shirt that you never use, and hide the candy in it. Place the shirt neatly back in your drawer. It would be best to use a shirt that you don't wear often. For example, if it is summer, hide your candy in a winter shirt or a sweater. If it is winter, hide the candy in one of your summer shirts.
- Another great hiding spot is inside of a pair of socks.
- Coat pockets make great hiding places too!
- Keep the candy in a small box on top of your bookshelf. Push the box towards the back of the shelf, against the wall. This will keep the box out of sight.
- Hide candy inside magazine folders. It would be best to use folders that you are currently using. That way, the folders will look like they are only being used for magazines.
- Camouflage the candy. Candy and toys are both brightly-colored. If you have a bin where you keep lots of small, plastic toys, you can hide some small, brightly-colored candies in the bottom of that bin. The bright colors of your toys will help camouflage the bright colors of the candy.
EditAvoiding Detection - Throw the wrappers away outside your home. If you have a trashcan in your room or home, don't throw the wrappers away in that. If someone sees candy wrappers in the trashcan, they will suspect that you are hiding candy in your room. Instead, throw the candy away at school.
- Don't brag. If you brag about hiding candy in your room, someone may go looking for it. If you have any siblings, it might be a good idea to keep your candy stash secret from them. If they get mad at you, they may tell on you. They may also get careless and accidentally give your secret away.
- Act natural. Don't get nervous, especially if someone is close to one of your hiding spots. For example, if someone opens the sock drawer where you hid your candy, don't scream "Don't open that!" or "Don't look in there!" This will tell the other person that you are hiding something, and they will get suspicious and look through your sock drawer.
- Don't draw attention to your candy stash. People tend to look where other people are looking. If someone is with you in your room, and you keep looking at your secret stash, the other person may get curious. They may even try to look wherever you are looking and find your candy.
- Don't hide your candy in places that other people go through often. For example, if someone does your laundry for you, don't hide your candy in your dresser, wardrobe, or closet. Another example would be a toy bin or a bookshelf that both you and a sibling use.
- Rotate your hiding places. The longer something sits in one place, the more likely someone will find it sooner or later. If you plan on hiding the candy in your room, plan on changing the hiding places at least once a week. If there are lots of people going through your room, you might even want to change the hiding places every day.
EditMaking a Faux Book Cubby - Choose a box that will fit on your bookshelf. A shoe box might be a little too big, but those cardboard boxes that snacks and granola bars would be perfect. You can also use a small, wooden box instead.[1]
- Find a picture online of some book spines. You can choose any types of books you want, but it might be a good idea to use books that you might find on your shelf. For example, if you have a lot of new books, a set of dusty, leather-bound books might look out of place.
- You can also stack some of your own books together, then photocopy their spines.
- Use an image editor to make them the same width as your box. Measure your box first and write that number down. Open up your picture in an image-editing program. Change the canvas size until the width matches up with the number you wrote down.
- Print the image out. Try to get good-quality print out. You can use plain, old printer paper for this.
- Glue the paper to a sheet of thin cardboard. Find a sheet of thin cardboard—an old cereal box would work great for this. Next, cover the cardboard with a thin layer of glue. It might be a good idea to paint the glue on with a paintbrush. If you use too much glue, your paper will get soggy.
- If you are using a cereal box, cut out the front or back first, then put the glue on the cardboard side. The image size will be on the back from now on.
- Place the picture on top of the glue. Use your fingers or the edge of a ruler to smooth it out. Wait for the glue to dry before you move on.[2]
- Cut the spines out. The picture you printed out will probably have a white background, or the background of a bookshelf. For this project, you want just the spines and no background. Use a pair of scissors to cut your image out of the cardboard. Follow the top edges of the spines as best as your can.[3]
- If you are very careful, you can also use a craft knife. Be sure to work on top of a cutting mat, and to cut away from yourself.
- Glue the cardboard to the side of your box. Cover the side of your box with a thin layer of glue first. Next, place the cardboard cutout on top of the glue. Make sure that bottom and side edges of your cardboard cutout match up with the bottom and side edges of your box.[4]
- Fill your box with candy, then slide it between two books on your bookshelf. This cubby not only acts as a storage for your secret candy stash, but it also doubles-up as a nifty bookend!
- Don't limit your ideas to only candy. You can keep small bags of chips, cookies, or even fruit snacks! You can also use this on things that aren't edible, like love notes and cups of slime. Just be careful not to get any crumbs or stains on the carpet!
- If you have any younger/older siblings that may rat you out, the best thing to do is either bribe them, or stash everything into your schoolbag before your sibling tells your parent/guardian.
- If you need to hide bulky candy, don't hide them in tight places. The bulges will give it away.
- If you have a dog or any other kind of pet that could sniff it out, you should hide your candy up high.
- Keep your candy in the wrappers. This will not only keep your room clean, but it will also prevent ants and other critters.
- If you have an old bag that you don't use, hide your secret stash in there!
- If you are eating when someone is coming to your room, hide the candy in a spot they wouldn't look at, but a spot that is close or they will be suspicious.
- For candy wrappers I just use a paper bag and then squish up the bag before throwing it away. I've done it a couple times and as long as nobody finds the bag, it should work. You can get paper bags from the dollar store.
- These methods are not guaranteed to work all the time. Whether or not someone finds your candy depends on how well you hid your candy—and how good they are at finding things.
- If your parents find out, the best thing you can do is give in and get in trouble. You can always start another collection later.
EditThings You'll Need EditMaking a Faux Book Cubby - Small box
- Print-out of book spines
- Thin cardboard
- Glue
- Scissors or craft knife
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How to Lose Weight and Gain Muscle Posted: 31 Oct 2018 09:00 AM PDT Losing weight and building muscle are both challenging. But with a healthy eating plan and a new workout routine, you can accomplish both at the same time! Eat lots of protein and healthy carbs. This will give you the energy to hit the gym and lift some weights. You'll also want to incorporate High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to burn fat as effectively as possible. EditReducing Your Weight with Dietary Changes - Calculate your ideal daily caloric intake. In order to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit. That means you need to burn more calories than you consume. You can use an online calculator to figure out how many calories you need per day. Everyone's needs are different, so use a calculator rather than just looking at general guidelines.[1]
- Once you have your estimated calorie guideline, subtract 300 calories from that number. For example, if the calculator suggests that you need 1800 calories per day, you'll want to consume 1500 to lose weight.
- Remember that you need plenty of energy in order to work out, so don't plan to drastically cut calories.
- Talk to your doctor about your nutritional needs.
- Choose whole foods to get the most nutrients. Pick foods that will provide you with energy and give your body what it needs. Whole foods (foods that are unprocessed or barely processed) are the best fuel for your body. They can also help you lose weight, as they typically have less fat and sugar than processed foods. Examples of whole foods include:[2]
- Increase your protein intake to build muscle and feel full. When you reduce your caloric intake, you may need to increase your protein intake to help build muscle. Aim to eat about of protein per pound of body weight (0.9 grams per kilogram of body weight). You can eat a variety of healthy proteins such as:[3]
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Aim to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Slow and steady is the key to healthy weight loss. Plus, if you lose weight too quickly, you will also lose muscle. Your goal should be sustained weight loss of 1-2 lbs per week.[4]
EditBuilding Muscle with Strength Training - Strength train for 45 minutes 3 times a week to build muscle. The best way to build muscle is to start a weight lifting routine. You can use either free weights or machines, or a mixture of both. Schedule 3 workouts per week, and plan to train for about 45 minutes.[5]
- Alternate days, rather than doing 3 sessions in a row.
- Consider joining a gym. You will have access to all of the equipment that you need, plus a staff that can guide you.
- Include leg exercises in each routine. Your legs are a major muscle group, so you want to work them each time you train. If you're working out at a gym, ask a staff member to show you how to work the weight machines. Make sure to exercise your hamstrings, quadriceps, and inner and outer thighs. If you're using free weights, you should choose to do some of the following exercises each session:[6]
- Perform both push and pull exercises to get a complete workout. To get the most from your workout, you want to push weights and pull them, so that you hit your muscles from all angles. Effective push exercises include bench presses and overhead presses, as well as tricep dips. Pull exercises include rows and pull ups.[7]
- The amount of weight you use depends on your fitness level. You might start with a 5 lb weight, and gradually add more. The same is true with the number of sets and reps you should complete. Generally, you'll probably start with 10-12 reps and 2-3 sets.
- Complete core exercises to build abdominal muscles. In order to get rock hard abs, you need to work your core. Doing this will also help increase overall strength and stabilization.[8]
- Add planks to your routine. Start with holding a plank for 30 seconds a session. Gradually increase your time to 2 minutes. You can also add in 1 armed side planks to work your obliques.
- Do hanging knee raises. Hang onto a stable bar at the gym. Lift your knees towards your chest and lower them back down for 1 rep. You might only be able to do a couple at a time at first, but you can work your way up to doing 10-12 in a set.
- Keep a training journal to track your progress. Each time you workout, write down how many reps you do of each exercise, and how heavy the weights were. You'll have a record of where you started and note the areas where you have improved. You can use a standard notebook or use an app to keep your notes.[9]
- Consider meeting with a trainer if you're new to weight training. It's really important to have good form when you work with weights. If you're new to this type of workout, it might be a good idea to consult a trainer. If you work out at a gym, ask about setting up a session with a trainer.[10]
- Many gyms will offer a complimentary introductory session.
- A regular trainer might be beyond your budget, and that's okay. You could also watch videos from reputable sources online to get an idea of what great form looks like. Good sources include ACE training videos, videos made by physical therapists and kinesiologists, and videos from certified personal trainers.
- Incorporate stretching to help prevent injury. Make a point to stretch after each workout. Aim for 5-10 minutes each session. You don't have to stretch every muscle in your body, but make sure to release the tension from the areas that you worked that day.[11]
- Do simple toe touches to stretch out your legs.
- Stretch your arms straight at shoulder level so that look like a T. Face your palms up toward the ceiling. Slowly rotate your palms down toward the floor, keeping your arms in the T position. Hold the stretch for a moment, then rotate your palms back toward the ceiling. Repeat this stretch 4-5 times in each direction.
EditAdding HIIT Workouts to Your Routine - Swap lengthy cardio sessions for HIIT. HIIT sessions are a great way to get your heart rate up and get you quickly into the fat burning zone. These are a great choice, because while lengthy cardio sessions can burn a lot of calories, they can also break down muscle as well as fat. When you're looking to build muscle and lose weight at the same time, HIIT workouts are your best bet.[12]
- Warm up for 3-5 minutes. Let your body ease into the workout by slowly getting started. Choose any simple exercise as a warm up, and do it for a few minutes before starting your intervals. You might:[13]
- Move through a cat/cow flow
- Do arm circles and swings
- Swing your legs forward and back
- Slowly jump rope
- Work at your hardest point for 60 seconds. It doesn't matter what you do for 60 seconds. It just matters that you are pushing yourself to the absolute limit for 60 seconds. Obviously, you should be able to breathe, but talking in complete sentences should be very difficult. Set a timer on your phone or watch so that you know when time is up. Great exercises to incorporate include:[14]
- Slow down and recover for 2-4 minutes. Now you want to bring your heart rate back down for a short time. You'll keep working, just not at the same pace. During these recovery periods, you could do sit-ups or push-ups, walk on a treadmill, or ride at a gentle speed on a stationary bike. You want to keep burning calories, but get your breath and strength back.[15]
- Complete 1-3 HIIT workouts per week for the best results. Ideally, you should aim for 2-3 20-30 minute sessions per week. Alternate days, so that you do strength training 1 day and HIIT the next.[16]
- You can download HIIT apps on your phone to guide you through workouts.
- Many gyms offer HIIT classes, if group exercise is your thing.
- Super high-intensity workouts can strain your heart. If you get up past 80% of your maximum heart rate during your HIIT workouts, limit them to once per week to give your heart time to recover and build strength.
- Mix up your workouts so you don't get bored.
- Keep a food diary so that you can track your weight loss progress and note any issues.
- Talk to your doctor before making drastic modifications to your wellness routine.
- Don't lift heavy weights without a spotter.
- Stop exercising if you feel dizzy or have great difficulty breathing.
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