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Awesome Date Ideas for Under $20
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cream or drinks, pull out the game right there at your table and begin. Take turns answering the questions on the blocks you wiggle out. This is especially great for first dates; Jenga keeps the conversation going for you, so there’s no awkwardness. 4. Couple canvases: Get some cheap face paint and turn each other’s faces into works of art. Use glowin-the-dark paint for that wow factor, or see who can paint the best while blindfolded. 5. Rockin’ it: Go outside and gather some rocks. Then go to the store, get some paint (free sample paint works well) and decorate the rocks together. Be sure to glue on some googly eyes. Then hide them in public places and see how long they stay there. As an added bonus, every time your significant other passes one of those spots, he or she will be thinking of you. 6. The thrift shopper: Take your date to Goodwill, yard sales or anywhere that offers a strange assortment of clothes. Pick out crazy clothes for each other. Try them on. Take pictures. Repeat. 7. Melted crayon art: Grab some crayons and a white canvas from the store. Glue the crayons in a pattern along one edge of the panel, then use a hairdryer to melt the crayons, letting them run all over the canvas. Dry thoroughly, and behold: melted crayon art. Keep the masterpiece for yourself, or give it to your date to hang on his or her wall.
8. Human bingo: Before the date, prepare two homemade bingo cards. Fill the boxes with things like “socks with sandals,” “blue hair,” “a third wheel” and so forth. Now, go explore the mall with your date and see who can win the game by spotting people who meet the requirements on the cards. To up the ante, try a blackout round. 9. Metal stamping: You can find metal stamping kits online for about $15. When yours arrives, grab your date and a hammer and pound the night away by hammering your names or a phrase into some spare change. Blank dog tags are cheap and also work perfectly for this date. 10. Write a short story: Try writing a short story together, with yourselves as the main characters. Take turns writing one sentence each and see where your story goes. Writing a short story is also a great group date. Share your finished story with your friends and compare: Which couple is the next Shakespeare? 11. The adventure: Travel to a neighboring town neither of you are very familiar with. Explore Main Street, and act like tourists. Be sure to find a cute little shop to stop and get ice cream along the way. 12. Peanut M&M’s poker night: This may be hard to pull off with two people but is great with a group. Buy a large bag of peanut M&M’s, divide them up between the players, and play some poker. Add in a twist of your own by assigning different values to different
FamilyShare colored M&M’s. Don’t forget to wash your hands before playing! 13. Kitchen creation: This date starts at the grocery store. Split up and gather six items, all selected from different aisles. Buy your new ingredients, take them home, and figure out how to combine them all into a meal. Enjoy! 14. World record holders: Breaking a world record can be tough, but you can always make your own world record! Check out www. recordsetter.com, and set a new record for the longest time breath held under water in sink while clapping with bare feet — or whatever. 15. The firefly (part 1): First, go hiking. Then, roast marshmallows over a fire. Proceed to stuff your mallows with different types of candy until you figure out which combination is best. Snickers? Starburst? Butterfingers? You can even feed each other your marshmallow creations, if that’s your thing. 16. The firefly (part 2): When the sun has fully set, pull a few clear, empty jars and an assortment of glow sticks out of your satchel. Cut the glow sticks open, and dump all of the liquid into the jars. Close tightly, and shake ‘em up. Ta-da: You’ve got glowing lanterns! Use them to hike back to the car. (Check out www.wikihow.com/Make-MasonJar-Glow-Stick-Lanterns for more detailed instructions.)
Move Over, Dark: Milk Chocolate Is Just as Good for Your Heart
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on’t feel bad if you prefer milk over dark: A new study says that any kind of chocolate is incredibly good for your health. Dark chocolate has been lauded for years as the smarter choice when it comes to eating candy, but this new study, published in the journal Heart, suggests there might not be a big difference after all. The study looked at health data from more than 21,000 men and women for almost 12 years. Researchers from the University of
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Aberdeen in England found that the participants who consumed the most chocolate had an 11 percent lower risk for coronary heart disease and a 23 percent reduced risk for stroke. “There does not appear to be any evidence to say that chocolate should be avoided in those who are concerned about cardiovascular risk,” the researchers wrote in their conclusion. This is the first study that shows that milk chocolate can be beneficial to the heart. Previous studies have shown that dark chocolate can cut the risk of heart failure in women by a third. Scientists aren’t exactly sure what component of the chocolate is good for your health. Dr. Phyo Myint, senior author of the study, told
Live Science that flavonols found in chocolate could contribute to the risk reduction of heart disease and stroke. But, Myint warns, make sure you keep your chocolate indulgence to 3.5 ounces or less. “The key is only to have moderate consumption and ensure one does not exceed the calorie intake recommended for their height or weight,” Myint said. This study comes on the heels of another cocoa study that says dark chocolate may contain more milk than previously thought. A 2013 study showed that drinking hot chocolate twice a day appeared to boost blood flow to the brain by 8.3 percent, improving brain function and memory.
moments | July 2015 | www.statesboromoments.com
hether married or single, these memorable dates are sure to help you score originality points. Use the following ideas as a starting point, but feel free to add your own twist. Mix and match, combine ideas together, or switch out materials — do whatever you’d like. Oh, and don’t forget, you can pull all these dates off for under $20! 1. Box boats: This date demands a little preparation, but it certainly pays off. Start saving up all the cardboard boxes you can find. When you’ve collected the materials, pull out a roll of duct tape and construct a small boat with your significant other. Of course, give it a quick paint job for style. Next, pull on your swimwear — don’t forget lifejackets! — and take your cardboard boat out to the river, pool, lake or whatever body of water you choose and see how long you both last before it sinks. Make this a group date by seeing which couple can row out the farthest before sinking. 2. Pancake-making contest: Grab a couple of squeeze-bottles and fill them with pancake batter. Add food coloring and see who can create the coolest-looking pancake creation. Then, throw them at each other — or eat them, whatever makes you happy. 3. The Jenga twist: Borrow or buy a boxed game of Jenga and write a question on each block. Go get ice