Watermelons reign supreme as the quintessential seasonal treat, beloved by folks of all ages for their refreshing, hydrating properties, particularly cherished during the sweltering summer months. However, selecting the perfect watermelon can be a bit of a gamble, as its quality remains concealed until sliced open.
Several critical factors come into play when scouting for the ideal watermelon, with shape, appearance, and color being paramount. Primarily, a good watermelon should feel weighty in your hands, indicating its juiciness and ripeness. Keep an eye out for the telltale melon spot, a creamy yellow splotch on the underside opposite the stem; a green or white spot signifies an underripe fruit. Additionally, a glossy rind is a sign of freshness.
To further gauge ripeness, give the watermelon a gentle tap; a hollow sound indicates peak readiness for consumption. Opt for specimens with a symmetrical round or oval shape, steering clear of any irregularities.
In the quest for health-conscious eating, distinguishing naturally grown produce from those laced with chemical fertilizers is paramount. Many farmers resort to growth accelerants to expedite melon development, with a distinct crack in the core serving as a telltale sign of synthetic cultivation.
Should you encounter such a rift in a watermelon, it’s indicative of chemical intervention during growth.
The benefits of watermelon extend beyond its flesh to include its oft-discarded seeds, teeming with essential nutrients. Don’t toss those seeds aside, as they boast a wealth of goodness. A mere 150 grams of dried seeds contain a whopping 30.6 grams of protein, fulfilling 61% of your daily protein needs.
These seeds pack a punch of essential amino acids like tryptophan, glutamic acid, and lysine, alongside arginine, renowned for its blood pressure-regulating properties and arterial health benefits. Niacin, a B vitamin crucial for nerve function, digestion, and skin health, abounds in these seeds, alongside thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and pantothenic acid.
Minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese, and zinc round out the nutritional profile, bolstering muscle and joint health. As for the watermelon rind, it boasts minimal fat and cholesterol content. Citrulline, abundant in the peel, aids in ammonia detoxification in the liver, combats oxidative stress, promotes vasodilation, and boosts energy levels.
This often-overlooked portion also houses a treasure trove of vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12, alongside pantothenic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. These vitamins, coupled with antioxidants, fortify the immune system and ward off heart disease, joint inflammation, and various cancers, including colorectal, prostate, breast, and cervical.
Surpassing tomatoes in lycopene content, watermelon emerges as a potent antioxidant, slashing LDL cholesterol levels and safeguarding against cardiovascular ailments, cataracts, and osteoporosis.
My Cousin Deliberately Made My Wedding Dress Two Sizes Too Small – She Was Astonished When She Saw How I Handled It
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. I was surrounded by the people who loved me, and even more, my cousin wanted to do something so intimate by making me a wedding dress.
Everything felt right.
We spent weeks choosing the design and fabrics. We pored over the magazines and websites, and finally, I had an idea in mind.
One day, I met Sarah at her office, ready to take my final measurements so that she could start with my dress.
“You’re going to look amazing,” she said, taking my measurements precisely, jotting down everything carefully on her writing pad.
“Oh, I hope so,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee as Sarah put her measuring tape away. “I’ve been on a strict diet, and I’m finally happy with my weight. So, it’s just about maintaining my figure now.”
“You look good, Jess,” she said. “But if anything changes and you find yourself losing or gaining weight, just let me know, and you can come in for another fitting.”
I nodded and left, eager to see how my dress was going to turn out.
But when I went for the final fitting, things took a turn.
I slipped into the dress, but something was wrong—it was way too small. I couldn’t even zip it up, no matter how hard I sucked in my breath.
“Jess! Are you crazy to gain weight before the wedding?” Sarah asked, her tone dripping with mock concern.
My heart sank. We were two weeks away from the wedding, and judging from this fitting, I didn’t have a dress.
“I haven’t gained any weight, Sarah,” I replied. “I’ve been too stressed to eat. If anything, I should have lost weight because of that!”
Sarah shrugged, barely concealing a smirk that was plastered onto her face.
“Well, I’ll try to fix it, but with the wedding so close, I can’t make any promises. I have other clients waiting for their orders, too, Jess.”
Her words rang loud and clear in my head as I drove away from her office.
And then it hit me — this wasn’t an accident. I recalled the way she spoke to me, and the tone in her voice. There was no remorse in her mistake. There was no mix-up in measurements. There was no weight gain with me.
This was deliberate, and Sarah had made the dress too small on purpose.
“I don’t know what to do,” I told Michael when he got home that evening.
“Show me the dress?” he asked, pouring himself a glass of water.
“What! No!” I exclaimed. “The dress may be a mess, but it’s bad luck for you to see!”
“Look, why don’t you take the dress to Mrs. Lawson? She’s my mom’s friend, and she does all her alterations. She’s making Mom’s dress for the wedding, too.”
So, I gathered the awful dress and went to Mrs. Lawson, who was a retired seamstress with a reputation for miracles.
“Oh, honey,” she said when I walked in. “Michael phoned me and told me all about the mess. But I’ve seen the worst and made it a hundred times better.”
“This might be tricky, though,” I said, showing her the dress.
“Honey, I’ve seen it all, trust me. Let’s make this work,” she chuckled.
Together, we transformed the original design into something completely new. A chic, short, cocktail-style dress that was bold, unconventional, and a bit edgy for a wedding.
But it was absolutely stunning. It was everything Sarah’s dress wasn’t: fun, flirty, and perfectly me.
When it was time to walk down the aisle, my heart raced. I stood in the bridal suite of the wedding venue and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked beautiful. I felt beautiful.
As my dad walked into the room to get me, his jaw dropped.
“My darling,” he said. “You look incredible! Wow!”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. “I know it’s not what we all envisioned me wearing for my wedding, but it’s been the best surprise. I feel like a bride.”
“That’s the only thing that matters, darling,” he said.
Soon, my entrance music began, and goosebumps appeared all over my body as a classical version of a Lana Del Rey song took over the room.
Heads turned.
And I felt the buzz of admiration follow me as people watched me walk in. I knew that my dress was a hit.
When I got closer to Michael, his eyes widened, and his smile took over his face. I knew then that the man I was about to marry fell in love with me all over again.
But before I took my place next to Michael, I turned to Sarah, wanting to see her expression first.
Her face was priceless: she was pale and shocked. I knew she had expected to see me in tears, humiliated by her sabotage and wearing that horrible dress she had designed.
Instead, I was glowing, smiling from ear to ear.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, Michael’s vows leaving me in tears and my heart full of love for the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
But then came the reception.
Michael and I were mingling with our guests when Sarah cornered me.
“Jess, what happened to the dress? Where’s my original design? Why did you change it?” she asked, trying to hide her confusion.
I grinned.
“Oh, I thought I’d take your design and make it better! Remember, you weren’t even sure that you could do anything about it. And I was bursting out of it because it was at least two sizes too small.”
“So, that’s it? You just threw away my hard work?” she gasped. “That’s low!”
“No, Sarah, your work is the foundation of this dress. It’s just a hundred times better because the woman who fixed it wanted me to look and feel beautiful on my wedding day.”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Around us, guests kept complimenting my dress, calling it unique and stunning.
Sarah had no choice but to stand there and listen.
“Come on, love,” Michael called to me. “Let’s do our first dance so that I can really get into the buffet after! The roast beef is to die for!”
“I’m coming,” I smiled, finally happy.
What would you have done?
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