Q: Not only can the magical stuff fight cancer, but it can give your metabolism a boost, too. In a recent study by the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, participants who took green-tea extract three times each day saw a 4% rise in their metabolisms. What does that 4% mean to you? An extra 60 calories a day, that's what. Do you know what that means long-term? 6 pounds! Just by taking a little pill. And if you're of the scientific variety, it's believed to up your levels of norepinephrine. And you thought miracles didn't happen: A recent study has shown that if you drink 17 ounces of cold water, within 10 minutes your metabolism shoots up 30-40% for the next half hour or so. That means you could burn an extra 17,400 calories a year just by consuming an extra 1.5 liters (0.4USgal) a day or so. That's five pounds! In addition to upping your metabolism, water fills you up, keeping you from eating more. Before you go about snacking, grab a glass. And, of course, always have a bottle with you at the gym. A study published in the Journal on Obesity Research found that women who ate only low-fat dairy products -- like nonfat yogurt, for example -- at least three times a day lost 70% more fat than their female counterparts who just ate low amounts of dairy. In short, dairy doers have less fat on their bodies, not the other way around. In fact, calcium tells your body to amp up the fat burning. Unfortunately, calcium-fortified goods don't fall under the same umbrella -- to feel the calcium power, you have to go for the dairy products in the raw. Try to get at least 1,200 mg a day. With your diet, at least. Turns out those who eat fish on the regular have lower leptin levels -- this blessing keeps up the metabolism, preventing obesity. Try to get a serving of fish every other day; salmon, tuna, and mackerel, your fattier fish, are best. Replace foods that expand your waistline with healthy foods, like fish. Fish is a food that is full of satisfying flavor, low in calories, and stocked with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 acids are essential fats that your body can't make. They help keep the blood from clotting too easily and add to a better cholesterol ratio. Low-carb, high-fiber foods take more time to digest than other foods, leaving you feeling fuller longer and less likely to snack needlessly. Spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower are all healthy, high-fiber foods. Beyond the fiber content, crunching and chewing a whole piece of fruit stimulates your senses and takes longer to eat. So psychologically, it may also be more satisfying than beverages or soft foods. Chewing also promotes saliva and the production of stomach juices that help fill the stomach. Not in an extreme, Atkins sort of way, but having a little protein at every meal fires up your metabolism. Your digestive system uses more energy to break it down, so you burn more calories. However, keep protein levels to between 20 and 35 percent of your diet; eating too much of it can cause kidney strain and may cause your body to store too much fat. Not all protein is created equal. Be sure to look for protein sources that are nutrient-rich and lower in fat and calories, such as lean meats, beans, soy, and low-fat dairy.
A: Stock up on green tea. Drink lots of water. Do more (low-fat) dairy. Get fishy. Fill up on fiber. Pump up the protein.

Q: You can pick any flower that you want for your boutonniere. Make sure the flower has a sturdy stem so your boutonniere doesn't wilt. Pick a flower that's the same color or a complementary color of your clothes. For example, if you were wearing a purple tie, choose a purple or yellow flower for your boutonniere. Use artificial flowers if you don't have access to fresh ones.
A: Choose a large flower for the middle of your boutonniere.

Q: Tokyo uses a public transportation system that is interchangeably called the "Tokyo Metro" and "Tokyo Pasmo." You can find your balance displayed when you touch your card to the ticket gate or the onboarding machine while riding the bus. You can access your remaining balance and access history on bus or subway ticket vending machines. Check your balance by inserting your card, selecting "Print Balance History," and taking the transaction receipt. Transaction receipts display the 20 most recent card charges. Insert your card and select "Charge" from the menu. Select the amount you want to add to your card and insert that amount in cash into the machine. You can add between 1,000-10,000 at a time. If you want to add money to your card on the bus, you can by asking your bus driver. They can transfer up to 1,000 to your card.
A: Check the Tokyo Metrocard information when you swipe your card. Print your Tokyo Metrocard transaction history. Add funds to your card at the bus or subway ticket vending machines.

Q: Characteristics should include weights, grades and measurements of components. The color grade of the gemstone should be determined by using comparison gemstones. If any atypical treatments were conducted on your gemstone or if your gemstone is untreated, this should be noted on the appraisal. The value depends on whether you want to insure your jewelry for its actual cash value, its replacement value or its agreed value. Cash value is the value of your jewelry at today's market rate, not at the purchase price. Replacement value means the insurer will pay you a specific amount according to its current market value at the time of the loss. Agreed value means that you and your insurer settle on a specific value that you will receive in the event of a loss. If your appraisal is for an insurer, then your appraiser should use one of the following forms from the Jewelry Insurance Standards Organization: JISO 805Jewelry Sales Receipt for Insurance Purposes. This form is used when you are purchasing jewelry and can be completed by the retailer who sold the jewelry to you. JISO 806Jewelry Document for Insurance Purposes. This form is used when you're obtaining a second appraisal. JISO 78Jewelry Insurance AppraisalSingle Item. This form must be completed by a Certified Insurance Appraiser and is a highly detailed description of the item. JISO 79Jewelry Insurance AppraisalMultiple Items. This form is also completed by a Certified Insurance Appraiser and is used for the valuation of multiple items of jewelry.
A:
Look for a description of all characteristics of the piece. Expect notes on gemstone treatment. Watch for a statement of whether the gemstone is natural or synthetic. Expect notes on the type of setting. Look for an appraisal of the jewelry's value. Expect the appraisal to include a photograph of the gem. Make sure that your jeweler uses the proper forms.