If you’re wondering where those extra pounds are coming from it could be that treat you grabbed with this morning’s cup of java. Yes, they’re delicious, but many of the snacks you’ll find at the higher end coffee shops and other fast food restaurants have more calories than you think. In fact the foods with the highest fat might even look like the most natural choices.

For instance, if you go to Starbucks you might be deciding between the Blueberry Scone and the Double Fudge mini doughnut. Believe it or not the Double Fudge Mini Doughnut only has 130 calories and 8grams of fat compared to the 470 calories and 25 grams of fat in the Blueberry Scone!

At Tim Horton’s you are better off to choose the Strawberry Yogurt rather than just one Sour Cream Glazed Cake Tidbit. The yogurt has 140 Calories and 2.5 grams fat while the Timbit has 90 calorie with 4.5 grams fat. And can anyone ever eat just ONE Timbit?

At McDonald’s you might think having a Carrot Muffin instead of a Vanilla Cone makes sense. Wrong! The Vanilla one is only 230 calories with 7 gram of fat while the carrot muffin is 430 calories with 16 grams of fat.

At a Coffee Time outlet it is better for you to choose the Almond Hazelnut Biscotti over the Raisin Bran Muffin. The Muffin has 610 calories and 18grams fat while the Biscotti have 160 calories and 5 grams fat. However the redeeming factor with the muffin is that it does have 9 grams of fiber where the biscotti have none. On the upside with the biscotti again, it contains almonds which are high in Vitamin E and help lower cholesterol.

It’s a bit ironic but sometimes the healthiest sounding items are the worst culprits when it comes to their calorie, fat and sugar contents even if they do contain healthy things like flaxseed, bran or fruit.

You should also watch out for toppings like butter, peanut and margarine which can add tons of calories to fatty items such as scones, muffins and croissants.

As you can see it is important to check the nutrition information. Many snacks have more fat and sodium than you would ever think. Be sure to ask a clerk for information. If they do not have a brochure then go online to check the nutrition of what you are getting with some of these quick snacks. Don’t think they don’t count when it comes to counting calories! They do!

Do you want to get to know your daughter a bit better? Taking the indirect approach is a good idea. Here are some ways to become closer friends with her.
It increases your child’s self-esteem if she can teach you something. Ask your teen to teach you how to produce an online photo gallery or a blog. Most teens today were raised in the digital age and can do this type of thing better than you can.

Yet another way to bond is to start reading the same book and discuss it. This is both an intellectual and intimate pursuit.

Yet another good idea is to take a trip together somewhere. Let your teenage girl drive. This is perfect for the teen with a new driver’s license. The destination could be anywhere, but venturing out to visit the family homestead or another fun spot of your teen’s choosing would fit the bill for an afternoon of bonding. It could be as simple as regular practice sessions in the country or on city streets so that your son or daughter can perfect his or her driving skills. You could also consider biking together or going on a camping trip together.

A weekend getaway or a day spa treatment provides the necessary elements of relaxation and pampering to put mom and daughter into the right frame of mind for serious bonding.

Most female teens are quite self-conscious about their body so it is a great idea to suggest that the two of you work out together. Not only will having a fitness buddy for emotional and inspirational support keep you both motivated to attend classes, but it will ensure a regular and long-lasting commitment to building a close relationship. Think of all the shopping you can do afterward.

Another neat thing to do is make a family scrapbook. This helps kick the nostalgia between you into high gear which of course is very bonding. Let her be creative as possible when scrapbooking. This is also a great way to introduce her to your family history.
Another way to bond with each other is to bake cookies together. It sounds cliché but it has worked for mothers and daughters for aeons. Choosing recipes is just as fun as doing the baking itself!

If you do this you help your teen build a strong sense of self which also helps them fight things like peer pressure.

Do you want to get to know your daughter a bit better? Taking the indirect approach is a good idea. Here are some ways to become closer friends with her.

It increases your child’s self-esteem if she can teach you something. Ask your teen to teach you how to produce an online photo gallery or a blog. Most teens today were raised in the digital age and can do this type of thing better than you can.

Yet another way to bond is to start reading the same book and discuss it. This is both an intellectual and intimate pursuit.
Yet another good idea is to take a trip together somewhere. Let your teenage girl drive. This is perfect for the teen with a new driver’s license. The destination could be anywhere, but venturing out to visit the family homestead or another fun spot of your teen’s choosing would fit the bill for an afternoon of bonding. It could be as simple as regular practice sessions in the country or on city streets so that your son or daughter can perfect his or her driving skills.

You could also consider biking together or going on a camping trip together.

A weekend getaway or a day spa treatment provides the necessary elements of relaxation and pampering to put mom and daughter into the right frame of mind for serious bonding.

Most female teens are quite self-conscious about their body so it is a great idea to suggest that the two of you work out together. Not only will having a fitness buddy for emotional and inspirational support keep you both motivated to attend classes, but it will ensure a regular and long-lasting commitment to building a close relationship. Think of all the shopping you can do afterward.

Another neat thing to do is make a family scrapbook. This helps kick the nostalgia between you into high gear which of course is very bonding. Let her be creative as possible when scrapbooking. This is also a great way to introduce her to your family history.
Another way to bond with each other is to bake cookies together. It sounds cliché but it has worked for mothers and daughters for aeons. Choosing recipes is just as fun as doing the baking itself!
If you do this you help your teen build a strong sense of self which also helps them fight things like peer pressure.

Welcoming a pet into your home can be an exciting Endeavour and, much like the arrival of a new child can bring you a lot of joy. However you should make sure that the breed of dog that you choose for your family is going to be appropriate.

First of all you need to decide whether or not you are looking for a guard dog, a hunter or a dog for the kids to play with. You also need to decide how high maintenance of a dog you are going to put up with.

Yet another thing to consider is that some dogs need nearly constant grooming while others require next to done. Each breed also has a unique set of behavioral and personality traits that also should come into consideration before you buy a dog.

You should also keep in mind that the larger the dog is the more it will cost to feed it!

The top friendliest two dog breeds are rather large. These are the Golden retriever and the Labrador retriever. They are great for any family because they are very tolerant, loving and loyal by nature. They love to swim and are playful like a puppy all of the time. Just make sure you walk them a lot or they get restless. They adapt well to both the city and the country.

You might also check into getting a Collie which is smaller than a Labrador. Good-natured and energetic, the collie has been a popular pet since the first time Lassie appeared on TV. They are beautiful, great with children and easy to train.

However you do need to brush this type of dog’s coat quite a bit. Your collie’s working nature may require you to be creative. Keep him stimulated by asking him to fetch, herd or climb over or under something. Your collie will adapt well to city life but needs space to run around in frequently.

Yet another good choice is a boxer. They love to clown around and are very loyal. They are good city dogs because they are great guardians. They have short fur that requires very little care.

The Yorkshire Terrier is between three and seven pounds. They are great for a family because they are very loyal although they are known to be quite yappy. They are smaller lap dogs and cannot be treated that roughly by children. They are perfect for city life because they get all the exercise they need running around indoors. The challenge is to get one that is not going to bark too much!