A Glimpse of Glam

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Guest Post: Summer Travels Packing Tips for Men

Summer Travels Packing Tips Mens Edition - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

Hey everyone!

Maybe you are psychic, or maybe you read my previous post. Either way, you probably are sensing my growing obsession with traveling lately. To be honest, who doesn't? Okay... terrible question. I do know of someone who doesn't really like traveling. My sister. She hates going on airplanes and having to adjust to new environments. I get the airplane part because that seriously give me major anxiety. But the excitement I get outweighs it. Why dwell on the negative when there's so much positive to focus on instead? Especially when there's traveling involved.

Today I have a guest post to share with you all regarding packing tips for men! This post was written by Deen Tichy from Mensuas.com. They sell a variety of clothes and other items specifically for men. Definitely go check it out of you are a guy in a shopping mood, or if you've got a guy in your life you want to spend some money on.

Without further adieu...

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What to Pack For Summer Travels?

Your work profile might want you to travel all over the world or you can even travel for your own leisure purpose with family and friends. Unlike women, men face many pitfalls while packing the right things in accordance to the destination as well as the kind of trip they are looking forward to. Well, the weather conditions also are essential when dressing comes into the picture. I am here to guide you step by step and provide you the names of the essentials that you must keep in handy while journeying to a different place.

Once you are done with the planning of the destination and its whereabouts as well as booking you must keep the following things in your suitcase or the travel bag.

Map

Only if you have no clue about the place you’re planning to visit, a map is a necessity. You definitely would not want to spend maximum time asking for routes and places to visit. Hence, keep a detailed map with you.

Money

Without a doubt, money is the most important thing to carry, so that you can buy your happiness in the foreign place. Carry enough in accordance to the number of days you’ll be spending there.

T-shirts

Well, we guys hardly get time to wear Polos and other kinds of t-shirts that are less of formal, but very handsome. You should carry a couple of t-shirts (according to the number of days you’ll be spending) that are vibrant, summery and very comfortable.

Printed/ Cuban Collar shirts

Hot fashion for summer 2016, big prints and Cuban Collar shirts are a must have. They are chic, comfortable and have a laid back attitude. You can choose according to the schedule of your trip.

Chino trousers and shorts

Whatever your journey allows, Chinos are the most versatile piece of clothing that complement both formal as well as casual look. They are good at getting the best of comfort, breathability, and looks. So if you are planning to make a bold style statement, Chinos are just perfect.

Shoes

Well, when it comes to shoes, men can be very picky and that’s exactly what I like about us. Shoes or the footwear is a wide scope where you have to decide whether it is going to be Derbies or trainers. Both formal and casual lines have numerous options to choose from. The type of trip would allow you to decide even better.

Men’s Underwear

Focusing on the outfit and neglecting the underneath fashion is definitely not good. According to the number of days and what you’re gonna be doing there, choose the correct pair of men’s underwear styles. They should be lightweight, high on style (if you’d be flaunting them) and very comfortable. You can choose your style whether it is briefs or thongs or even boxer brief underwear and show off your masculinity.

First Aid Kit

Staying safe while traveling is what we all hope for. However, when you have a lot of things planned for yourself, including sports, trekking and more, we should be prepared for the bruises and cuts.

These are the essentials you need to carry when you travel next. Some other things like smartphone charger, moisturizer with SPF qualities. I would just ask you to create memories with your loved ones rather than losing the precious time managing things. Look happy, look stylish and enjoy your time traveling.

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I rarely post much for things regarding specifically men. I'm a girl so I post what I know most about. I find that these tips are quite helpful as some of them not only applies to men, but can also apply to the rest of us. Lemme know what you think in the comments below!

Mensuas.com offers a ton of clothing choices for men that are perfect for the summer, or any other time of the year. There are so many websites dedicated to women; men deserve some special focus too.

What are some of your best packing tips for the summer? Share in the comments down below!!

Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and that you have a fantastic week as well!

Til next time,
~A

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Black Bean Brownies: A Guilt Free Gluten-Free Vegan Sweet Treat

baking

Gluten Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam

Hey everyone!

Bask in the glory of the beautiful mouthwatering photos of these delectable brownies. These are a really tasty sweet treat that happen to also be gluten free and vegan. Must I say any more?

Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

First things first...

I apologize for being away for several weeks yet again! It has been too long! I was pretty busy finishing up stuff as classes ended for the quarter. Then, after finals, I was away visiting family for a week in Canada. I had very limited internet access because my grandmother doesn't have WiFi. Not because she doesn't know how to use it (though I actually have no idea if she does or not). To feed our internet addiction, we basically mooched off of the WiFi from our aunt and uncle's house that was one house down. It was super weak and barely reached, and only connected from certain parts of the house. We were better off going down the street to a nearby Tim Horton's instead. For the most part, it was nice to disconnect for awhile, but I did find myself occasionally wanting to go online to visit blogs and do my usual Instagram scroll.

A couple months ago, I shared with all of you a healthy salad and dressing recipe I created for the culinary sciences nutrition class I'm taking. This salad is a great dish to try out when you want something light yet filling, full of fiber, and packed with tons of nutrients. I'm glad to hear that you guys liked the recipe, and I wanted to share another one I've got!

I like to make sure the recipes I post are tried-and-true, and not an accidental one time only success. Otherwise, what's the point in posting a recipe if it doesn't work? I mean, sure the whole bragging part is pretty fun, you know, making everyone jealous of the delicious food. Sometimes, I pull up enticing photos of the food I make and show them to my friends, resulting in glaring, pleading looks from them as they wish I was giving them the food to try rather than just to look at. Look but don't touch; that's only fun for the person provoking the reaction, meaning me. But, I'm feeling generous, so I figured why not share the recipe!

These brownies are incredibly rich and fudgy, and full of that delicious chocolate flavor that leaves your mouth salivating for more. But, they have no butter. They may be dense little chocolate bombs, but they don't actually have the calories and fat they seem to have just from a taste. I gave some to my dad to try out, and he told me he loved it but didn't want to know how much butter was in it because of how fudgy and chocolatey it was. Seriously, his reaction when I told him this was actually a healthier version of brownies was priceless.

My father and sister do not like when foods are "healthier" versions of an original. I agree to some extent. Why bother creating a healthy version that isn't as satisfying as the actual thing? There's no point in eating something that is "healthy", if you are still left craving for the full-fat, full-sugar version. That's a ridiculous waste of calories and appetite. HOWEVER, on some occasions, a healthier version is good. Ones that fully satiate your desire for the food. They may not be EXACTLY copy-and-paste versions of the original, but they are damn good regardless. Actually, don't even think of them as a replacement or alternative; in fact, view them as an original themselves. They are their own thing. Try thinking that way and I guarantee you won’t be squinting at it through a lens of bias with negative, judgmental criticism parading through your brain.

That’s honestly how I go about a lot of new dishes I try out. If they happen to claim that they are “just like the original, only better for you”, I ignore all of that bullshit. I try not to let it all influence my judgment. So I am speaking the truth when I tell you all that these black bean brownies are truly remarkable.

I hope I’ve sold you all. If not, well, I can continue on ranting if you’d like? I could probably make a great salesman. But, then again, who knows? I’m talking to you guys virtually over the internet and I have no idea how well I’m doing. I’m only hoping that you guys are excited for this recipe.

Gluten Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

So I’m just gonna assume it’s a yes…

I created two versions, one with flax eggs (made of ground flaxseeds and water), as well as one with chia eggs (made with ground chia seeds and water). I personally prefer the latter, but you can decide which you prefer.

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15 oz can of black beans, rinsed thoroughly and drained OR 1 3/4 cups of cooked black beans, drained

2 flax eggs (2 heaping tbs ground flaxseeds mixed with 5 tbs water)

2 chia seed eggs (2 heaping tbs ground chia seeds mixed with 5 tbs water)

3 tbs coconut oil, melted

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for the chia version I used unsweetened dark cocoa powder but either works)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

2/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

**You will need a food processor**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

To make a flax egg or chia seed egg, grind up the seed in a food processor. Combine the ground seeds with water and set aside to thicken.

Add the black beans into the food processor and puree them until smooth.

Add in all the rest of the ingredients except for pecans and chocolate chips. Puree until smooth in consistency. You may need to pause and scrape off the sides occasionally. The resulting consistency should be thick not liquidy or runny.

Stir in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips, saving some aside to decorate.

Scoop the batter into a lightly greased muffin tin or square 9 inches by 9 inches baking pan. Sprinkle on the remaining pecans and chocolate chips.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the tops look dry. The top will NOT develop the shiny crust typical of brownies, but will look matte.

Makes 12 servings

**I experimented with adding 2 oz of melted semisweet baking chocolate into the mixture to give it an extra chocolatey flavor, but that is optional as well. It creates a subtle but chocolatier, and richer flavor.

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Please do give this recipe a try! They really do satisfy that chocolate craving or sweet tooth. I personally prefer the chia seed one better, mostly because flaxseeds generally provide a nuttier flavor. Otherwise, both are really delicious and addicting. The added benefit of using this recipe is that the beans and flax/chia seeds add a TON of extra satiating fiber that helps keep you full. Trust me. This is coming from someone who gets hungry easily. I couldn't help myself one morning and broke a piece to eat with my morning oatmeal, and I actually wasn't hungry for 5 hours when normally I would be starving after 3 1/2 hours.

How often do you guys get hungry? Sometimes I wonder if I am normal, so I'm pretty curious to hear what you have to say.

Terribly sorry for having been away for so long! Final projects took up quite some time. I want to provide you all with good quality posts, rather than short random fillers that aren't as genuine. I have some more recipes to share with you all soon! Like I said before, I like to test them out to really make sure they are great before sharing. Cuz I've got a name to maintain and I can't be sharing terrible recipes.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam

Black Bean Brownies Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam

Black Bean Brownies Recipe Gluten Free and Vegan - A Glimpse of Glam Andrea Tiffany

How do you guys create healthy versions of classic sweets without compromising texture or flavor? Comment down below!! I would love to learn new techniques to try out myself!

I really hope you enjoyed reading, and that you are having a wonderful week!

Til next time,