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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Category: The Single Diaries

  • Squash It!

    Squash It!

    A Recipe for Every Seasonal Squash

    fall squash

    There is a lot to love about fall but one of my absolute favorite things is the comfort food that it brings. Fall is truly a season that everyone in food embraces. Restaurants roll out special fall menus, farmers’ markets bins overflow with in-season vegetables, and Trader Joe’s stocks a bounty of seasonal favorites.
    When you think of Fall foods your mind probably jumps straight to pumpkin, the perennial favorite of the squash family. Roasted, carved, or seeded, these plump puppies are simply delicious.  Though these gourdes are great they are only one of the many seasonal squashes that can and should be enjoyed this time of year. There are over 60 others that can be savored!
    All of the fall squashes offer amazing health benefits. They are low in fat and calories, high in fiber, and full of vitamins (A, B6 and  C) and minerals (potassium, manganese, and folate just to name a few). More than that they contain antioxidants that are linked to fighting off cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Butternut, acorn, and spaghetti are a few I recommend rotating into your diet to reap these amazing benefits.
    Convinced to give them a try but left wondering what to do after you get them in your cart? Look no further! I’ve rounded up my personal favorite recipes for each type of squash. These are great for single girls in the kitchen because the ingredients are simple, the steps are easy, and the results are healthy and delicious… the best combo!  On top of all that I’ve found that these meals make enough food for a week, so they’re a great way to eat well without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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  • 100 Calories of Halloween Candy

    100 Calories of Halloween Candy

    Know Just How Much Those Sweets Will Set You Back

    Oh Halloween! We love you and we hate you for the downpour of candy you bring us each October. It seems that on every office desk there are bowls full of chocolate calling our name. In every aisle of the grocery store, neon colored sugar beckoning us for a taste. We know we shouldn’t indulge but we can’t resist ourselves from giving in to the temptation.
    We would never suggest you try to forgo the sweets of the season all together. Quite frankly that feels like a challenge too daunting for even those with the greatest of willpower to take on. Instead were equipping you to choose your candy handfuls wisely so you can indulge without fear of packing on the bulge.
    We’ve put together a chart of the most popular Halloween candy. With each picture we’re letting you know how many calories one piece of candy will cost you  and how many pieces you can savor for 100 calories. Why 100 calories? Well that feels like a pretty sinless indulgence we can forgive for the sake of embracing the festivities. Of course, how much you choose is up to you. Enjoy!

    100 calories of Halloween candy

     

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  • Sweet [Drinks] Are Made of These

    Catherine shares some of her Los Angeles happy hour haunts, from A to Zinque.
    PHOTO: Viva La Foodies
    PHOTO: Viva La Foodies

    Happy Hour [ˈhapē ou(ə)r]: noun. A marketing term for a period of time in which a public venue offers discounts on alcoholic drinks.

    For me, happy hour is any hour while the sun is setting or has already set during which I consume a leisurely drink with or without pleasant company. I love happy hour as much as Alex Kerkovich loves ribs; if I could, I’d go twice a day. My shortlist covers the vast expanse of Los Angeles… and shows you how far I’m willing to go for a good cocktail. Each of these spots is tried and true, setting the scene for a quick first date drink or a lengthy catch-up with friends. To get you in the mood, I added my picks for the right shade of lip color to go with each hour.
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  • Flirting in the Freezer Aisle

    Flirting in the Freezer Aisle

    One Guy Lets TSD in on His Secret Strategy for Picking Up Dates

    Every now and then I think it’s a good idea to get a guy’s perspective on dating. We know they may be crazy but the more we learn about them the better chance we have of understanding why they do the things they do.
    I reached out to a male friend of mind and posed the question, “Where do you usually pick up girls?” I have to admit, his response surprised me.
    Photo Courtesy of Glamour
    Photo Courtesy of Glamour

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  • Don’t Expect Me to Smile. Or Meow.

    Colleen Viana reflects on her experiences with catcalling and opens an important discussion about street harassment
    PHOTO: Ralph Crane.
    PHOTO: Ralph Crane.

     

    On any given day, there are three things I fear while walking the streets of New York City:

    1. Pigeons (better known as rats with wings)
    2. A sea of tourists (though less of a fear and more of an annoyance—if you work in SoHo on the weekends you’ll understand)
    3. Catcallers

     

    The inevitable “damn girl!” or “what’s up, beautiful?” while at first complimentary, is enough to ruin your walk to work, the bodega, the bars, or hell, even the laundromat. A shout-out to your derriere can even cause more frustration than those relentless pigeons, sadly. It wasn’t until recently that I started contemplating the pragmatics of these very uncomfortable situations. The other day, for instance, I had to stop myself from looking back to shout, “YOUR MOM’S CHEST HAIR” when asked “where did those luscious locks come from, sexy?” It’s a constant reminder to pick your battles; but when is enough, enough?

    There is no way to easily confront being sexually harassed; that is essentially what catcalling is, believe it or not. It’s a conversation that is easily avoidable, often uncomfortable in the same manner as experiencing it. They are not moments we wish to recount, yet it happens so often that this unhappened conversation needs to start happening.

    So here is my story about the first time I can recall being catcalled, and not liking it (but when do you, really?).
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