Get rid of the stink

What Stinks?
You don't have to be an aromatherapy aficionado to know that smells have the ability to trigger strong emotions and associations. Baking bread can bring you back to the comfort of your grandmother's cottage while freshly cut grass can return you to childhood summer camp. Unfortunately, it also works in the other direction: a neglected garbage can under the sink may take your mind to the city dump on a hot day.
Everyone has been unlucky enough to come home to a house that smells less-than-perfect. There's the curry you cooked up a couple of nights ago combined with the leftover fish that was scraped into the garbage this morning. Oh, and then there's that pesky pet odor. It's enough to instantly drain away any excitement you had about coming home.
Walking through the door needn't be an assault on your olfactory organs. Preventing and eliminating odors can be achieved quickly, naturally and with stuff you probably already have around the house. And forget those fake-smelling canned air fresheners—you can do much better than that without spending a penny.
The Garbage CanIs the garbage can frequently unpleasant and stinky? If so, throw a couple of dryer sheets into the bottom of the can to help keep odors at bay. Coffee grounds make the garbage smell a little more bearable, so when it really stinks toss grounds in the trash instead of saving them for the garden. A few scoops of cat litter will work, too.
We know cleaning the garbage can isn't the most satisfying of chores, but taking the hose to it will make it a little less gruesome.
The CarpetNothing traps odor more than your carpet. Ask a stranger to put their nose to your carpet and they'd probably be able to deduce that you have three dogs, a cat, and that someone in your house used to smoke.
Never fear, baking soda is here! Sprinkle the stuff liberally through a sieve and onto the carpet. Let it sit for a half an hour and then vacuum. For particularly smelly areas (like the spot where Spot relieved himself, twice) wet the area with warm water and a few drops of essential oil or white vinegar, and then sprinkle with baking soda. After the spot is dry, use the vacuum again.
The FreezerEver treat yourself to a scoop of ice cream only to discover that it tastes exactly like your freezer? We have all had this gross-out moment but it needn't happen again.
To eliminate freezer-stench in a jiffy, simply put a rolled-up newspaper in the freezer overnight. The paper will absorb any foul odors. (The newspaper method will also work on your cooler). If this doesn't do the job completely, pour a little vanilla extract onto a rag and wipe down the shelves.
The FridgeKeeping a box of baking soda in the fridge is one of the best ways to absorb lingering leftover odors. Remember to change the box out every couple of months because it will stop working. If the smell really packs a punch, drastic measures must be taken. See if you can clear a rack of your fridge and sprinkle the baking soda onto a couple of plates or a cookie sheet. If this isn't possible, pour some into a few small dishes or into coffee filters and place them on every tier.
Cleaning the fridge is never fun but get in the habit of tossing out anything remotely suspicious regularly and you'll keep foul odors at a minimum. Do this at least weekly, ideally the night before the garbage is collected. That way those leftovers won't sit in the trash for too long.
When you go for the all-out clean (which we recommend at least every 3 months), combine equal parts white vinegar and warm water and go to town. If it really stinks, use it at its full strength. Vinegar is a great sanitizer and deodorizer.
The SinkNothing says rot like a few days of garbage disposal neglect. Who would have thought all those little orts could transform into such a giant stench?
First, run extremely hot water down the drain for a minute or two. (This will help flush out debris and is great for preventing clogs in your pipes.) Then, toss lemon and/or orange peels down the disposal and let it grind until it's all gone. You can find more strategies for a sweet-smelling disposal here.
The Whole House If a funky smell has moved in and wants to stay, fight back with vinegar. Pour a little vinegar into a number of glass jars and place them throughout the house. Let them sit overnight and the odor should be gone by morning.
For that "I just baked cookies" smell, rub vanilla extract onto your light bulbs. When the lights are turned on the sweet aroma will float throughout the house.
Boil water and a few sticks of cinnamon on the stove for a half an hour. Citrus rinds, mint and cloves will also work.
Look into different essential oils. They smell lovely and can lift the mood, heal, even keep insects away. One of the best parts about essential oils is that you can mix them to create a personal combination based on the scents that most appeal to you.
Escape from Smell HellEven the cleanest people encounter foul odors around the house now and then. The good news is that these smells are easily destroyed with everyday household items rather than perfumed aerosols found at the grocery store. Baking soda and vinegar will clean and deodorize just about everything and anything. Tackling bad smells the natural way actually absorbs the odors instead of just covering them up. So, don't keep running from that funky stench; kill it off once and for all.

Fair family feuds

Fair feud? 6 issues couples should argue about
‘Men's Health’ on which arguments can ruin or strengthen relationships
TODAY
Updated: 11:03 a.m. ET Aug 20, 2007
Most couples argue at some point, and many experts agree it can be a positive thing — but how you argue and what you argue about could make the difference between building a healthy relationship and one that's headed for divorce. How does one know which arguments are important and will help strengthen a relationship? “Men’s Health” editor David Zinczenko shares some hot buttons and issues that might be worth fighting for.
A lot of couples fight some. Some couples fight a lot. But almost all couples fight over the same three things: money, chores and how much time the two of them spend together. Problem is, most of us wind up having these same arguments over and over again. In part, that’s because these three issues are hot buttons for almost everyone, pure stressors that speak to our sense of love and fairness.
But as you’ve no doubt discovered, seldom are these issues really resolved. If you find yourselves going back to the same problems the way some celebs go back to rehab — lots of emotional turmoil, but little actual progress — then let me suggest you find something different to argue about. See, there are arguments that really are worth having — arguments that will strengthen your relationship and increase your overall happiness. So, what should you be arguing about?
SexWhy? Because each of you should be looking to make your sex life new/better/great/bed-shaking. And the only way you’ll get there is by having an open conversation, even if it feels more uncomfortable than a transatlantic coach airline seat. You should tell the other person what you want, when they’re not delivering, and to start coughing up the good stuff (not exactly in those words, mind you).
In “Men's Health” surveys of more than 2,000 men and women, 35 percent of women and 40 percent of men say they're not having enough spontaneous sex. Research shows that the female snuggle impulse is also her aphrodisiac, so men, take an honest look at your attempts at intimacy. Find out what intimacy means to each other, then provide it. Because when you stop arguing about sex, you stop having sex.
Raising the kidsAs long as you don’t argue (or hurl produce) in front of the kids. Happily married couples tend to make the best parents, but happily divorced parents aren't far behind, according to researchers at the NIH. While there’s a lot of choice in how you decide to punish, reward and set boundaries, the most important part is being each other’s support system and being jointly involved.
Studies suggest that children whose parents are “highly involved” in their school-related activities perform better academically. Unfortunately, in many couples, either dad or, more likely, mom sets the rules. One parent is the primary caregiver — even if both parents work (There are 105,000 stay-at-home dads and 5.2 million stay-at-home moms in this country — but Bureau of Labor statistics show that one in three working women now cash bigger paychecks than their husbands do). If both of you are deeply invested in how the kids are raised, you’re going to fight about things like time-outs, toys, curfews, hair styles, clothes choices, and the best way to make your daughter’s first date sweat. But that’s OK — it means you’re both dedicated to the same goal.
RetirementYou know you need to be financially prepared to retire, but you need something else: You need to be emotionally prepared. Most couples aren’t. Your husband’s vision of retirement may be a cabin in the woods; yours, a retirement community with unlimited Bunco. He may want to stick close to the grandkids; you might want to hop the first flight to Europe the minute work ends.
So fight it out: Arguing about it forces you to plan. And it’s not just how to retire, but when to retire, that invites a fight. According to a Fidelity Investments study, one-third of workers are forced to postpone retirement because they haven't saved enough money.
Your healthExcept for ladder falls, errant nail-gun incidents and other accidents, the average man won’t see a doctor between his last high school physical and his first heart attack (on the plus side, that does save the need to argue about retirement).
But it’s worth nagging your partner to get active — and get screened for preventable diseases. Rates of melanoma, the easiest cancer to prevent and detect, have nearly doubled over the past decade, and the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that one in every 50 Americans will have melanoma within the next five years. What’s more, the risk of diabetes rises with age and doubles after 40, and the risk of cardiovascular disease rises as well. However, high-risk diabetes candidates can cut their risk by 58 percent by changing their diets and exercise, and LDL cholesterol responds remarkably well to those lifestyle changes. Bickering about regularly getting to the doctor — and the gym — can prolong your life.
Working overtimeIn a society where working a lot has as much value and esteem as an iAnything, it’s no surprise that many of us have trouble balancing between work and home. But you’ve got to let your partner know when you’re feeling neglected, before you’re both more bitter than a lemon peel.An Australian study found that those who had stressful jobs were more likely than others to suffer from anxiety and poor health. And coming home stressed from work makes you more likely to blow up at your kids and lash out at your spouse. Be aware of how you spend your time at the office, and cut the nonsense, like obsessively checking e-mail or surfing the Web. The more efficient you are from 9 to 5, the more you'll get done, and the less of a problem it'll be to leave at 5:15. Then undo the day’s damage: Research shows that 10 minutes of hand-holding and a 20-second hug from your spouse can lessen the damaging effects of stress.
How you listen to each otherNinety-three percent of couples who fight dirty will be divorced in 10 years, according to marital researchers at the University of Utah. So while arguing can be a healthy means of expressing your feelings, unreasonable yelling and nonconstructive criticism won’t get you anywhere. Except in court.
What’s more, one-sided arguments can harm your heart: According to a University of Utah study, after 150 healthy couples discussed a contentious topic — family, money, chores and so forth — for six minutes, those who were on the receiving end of a domineering, one-sided argument experienced a significant (and lasting) hardening of their coronary arteries. Countering your partner’s bickering with your own complaints won't work. Instead, be aware of your trigger points and your own unhealthy responses. Disagreements are as unavoidable as taxes and damaging photographs of Britney, but the way you interact during them provides an opportunity for your relationship to grow.
For more relationship advice and tips, visit Men's Health.
URL: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20323044/?GT1=10245

New daily birth-control pill approved

The first birth-control pill meant to put a stop to women’s monthly periods indefinitely won federal approval. Called Lybrel, it’s the first such pill to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for continuous use. When taken daily, the pill can halt women’s menstrual periods indefinitely and prevent pregnancies. Lybrel is the latest approved oral contraceptive to depart from the 21-days-on, seven-days-off regimen that had been standard since birth-control pill sales began in the 1960s. The pill, manufactured by Wyeth, is the first designed to put off periods altogether when taken without break.

Got "raw" milk?

Surprisingly, more and more people are starting to drink raw, unpasteurized cow's milk. Or maybe that shouldn't be too surprising as most people associate things that are raw or natural as being safer and healthier for them. Unfortunately, drinking raw milk can be dangerous, especially for young children. Review the dangers of drinking raw milk that hasn't been pasteurized, including the risk of infection from harmful bacteria and the lack of Vitamin D in raw milk. And remember that kids should also avoid unpasteurized fruit juices, including unpasteurized apple juice and apple cider.

Nursing moms and painkillers

FDA warns nursing moms of painkiller risk
Side effect of codeine can cause overdose in breast-feeding infants
The Associated Press
Updated: 11:01 a.m. ET Aug 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - Nursing mothers who take codeine should watch their infants for increased sleepiness or other signs of overdose, federal health officials warned Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration warning of the rare but serious side effect was prompted by a 2006 report of the death of a nursing infant whose mother was given codeine for episiotomy pain.
Genetic testing later showed the woman’s body converted the codeine to morphine more rapidly and completely than in other people. That led to higher-than-expected morphine levels in her breast milk.
While the rapid conversion of codeine to morphine is a very rare side effect in some mothers, it can result in high and unsafe levels of the latter drug in the blood and breast milk, the FDA said in an alert.
Codeine is among the most common drugs taken by new mothers, FDA officials said.
It is included in several prescription pain drugs and in some over-the-counter cough syrups, Dr. Sandra Kweder, the FDA’s deputy director, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a telephone briefing.
The risk of having the genetic mutation ranges from about 1 percent in Hispanics, Chinese and Japanese, to 3 percent in African-Americans, 1 percent to 10 percent in Caucasians, and as high as 16 percent to 28 percent in North Africans, Ethiopians and Saudis, Kweder said.
Given the risk, doctors should prescribe nursing mothers the smallest dose of codeine for the shortest period of time, the FDA recommended. Doctors also should closely monitor both mother and child.
Watch for overdose signsIn children, signs of morphine overdose, beyond increased sleepiness, include difficulty breast-feeding or breathing and limpness. Nursing mothers may also experience overdose symptoms, such as extreme sleepiness, confusion, shallow breathing or severe constipation, the FDA said.
The FDA has asked drug companies that make those products to include information about the potential risks to nursing mothers who are ultra-rapid metabolizers of codeine.
There is a test available to determine if an individual is a rapid metabolizer of codeine, but Kewder said the agency is not currently recommending routine testing.
“Our point is to pay attention,” she said.
New mothers taking codeine who find themselves extremely sleepy should consult their doctor, and if their baby seems unusually sleepy or has trouble nursing they should contact their physician or take the baby to an emergency room, she said.

Is your office making you sick?

Is Your Office Making You Sick? It could be. Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba explains how your office location, gender and work habits can affect your office cleanliness and shares his secrets to staying germ-free.
By Kristin Edelhauser February 14, 2007URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/worklife/healthandfitness/article174640.html
If you've been noticing more absences around your office, don't be alarmed: It's the peak of cold and flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the season typically lasts anywhere from late December through March, but peaks in February. With the long hours most of us put in at the office these days, spending more time at your desk means a greater chance of germ build-up--and illness.
So, what can you do about it? In the last few years, we've been bombarded with messages from the media about how germy our lives have become--from Oprah's expose on household germs, to the Today show's testing of hotel room cleanliness. We've also heard plenty of antibacterial products promising to keep our homes and offices cleaner. But do they really work? Just how effective are these products in preventing the spread of germs, and ultimately, illness?
We consulted with a microbiologist from the University of Arizona at Tucson to get the truth about germs in the workplace. Dr. Charles P. Gerba, a nationally known expert on household microbes and intestinal diseases, is one of the first microbiologists to intensely study bacteria counts in the workplace. Along with The Clorox Company, Gerba and his team of researchers have tested thousands of samples in hundreds of offices throughout New York, Chicago, Florida, San Francisco, Arizona and Oregon. Gerba has learned that many factors go into creating a germy office--from office location to gender to occupation.
Getting Down to the Nitty-GrittyFrom his studies, Gerba has discovered that in most work environments, offices and cubicles have higher bacteria levels than surfaces in common areas. What spot in your office space is friendliest to germs? Telephones topped the charts in most offices across the United States, followed by desks and computer keyboards. "The phone is typically the dirtiest piece of equipment in an office because it goes straight to your mouth, and you never clean or disinfect it," Gerba says.
We decided to take matters into our own hands to see just how accurate Gerba's studies are in relation to our own office cleanliness at Entrepreneur.com. Gerba sent us 20 swab tubes and a cooler with a frozen ice pack to our Irvine, California, offices. We tested 20 different spots in our office used by employees daily. After swabbing the different surfaces, we sent them back to the University of Arizona and waited several weeks for our results.
When Gerba interpreted our data, he looked at the numbers in surprise and remarked on what a clean office we have. (Phew!) Though we ranked as one of the cleanest offices Gerba has sampled, he did point out a few items that were off the charts. "That is one of the dirtiest toilets I've seen," Gerba said as he viewed the data of our men's restroom toilet seat. Gerba explains that contrary to popular belief, most office spaces and items, like desks and phones, end up having more bacteria than the average office toilet seat. In past studies, he has found that the average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
To give you an idea of how we compare with other offices across the country, here are a few examples (including that toilet) of where we significantly differed from the norm:
Office Item
Entrepreneur.com Bacteria Numbers Per Surface
Average Number of Bacteria Per Surface
Phone
60
25,127
Desk
10
20,961
Keyboard
10
3,295
Mouse
30
1,676
Fax machine
10
301
Copy machine
80
69
Men's toilet seat
1,300
49
Aside from the men's toilet seat, our office did have a few other extreme items. For starters, a coffee mug we sampled only had a bacteria count of 10, a number Gerba says is typically in the thousands. One employee's water glass, on the other hand, had a count of 52,000. Most likely, this glass was being used on a regular basis and hadn't been cleaned in quite a while. Think about how often you actually disinfect your coffee mug or water glass after using it. If visions of germ armies just danced in your head, you may want to start washing your mugs and glasses with hot, soapy water daily.
Where Exactly Did You Catch That Cold?Now that we know which office items harbor more bacteria and need a little extra TLC, let's look at the factors that contribute to making one office germier than another.
Unfortunately, no matter how much of a clean-freak you are, if you live on the East Coast, natural elements are working against you. According to Gerba, East Coast offices win the germiest title, hands-down. "The dirtiest offices are on the East Coast since people are in larger buildings and tend to bring food to their desks more often," Gerba says. "East Coasters also tend to spend more time indoors due to the bad weather." Which Eastern city tops the charts as being the best environment for bacteria to grow? Gerba says that New York is Germ City, with Chicago coming in a close second. On the other hand, the cleanest offices can be found in San Francisco and Tucson, Arizona.
Location is key, but what about the job itself? Gerba tested phones, desks and computer mice within a variety of different occupations, and discovered that the most bacteria per square inch was found on surfaces used by school teachers because of their constant contact with children. Accountants ranked second to teachers, followed by bankers, radio disc jockeys and doctors. Consultants, publicists and lawyers harbored the least amount of bacteria per square inch in their offices.
Aside from your career, gender can also play a factor in office cleanliness. In his latest "Germs in the Workplace" study, Gerba compared the number of germs in women's offices and men's offices to determine the germiest gender. You might be surprised by the results: According to his research team, the bacteria levels in women's offices were nearly three times higher than in men's offices. Gerba explains that appearances can be deceiving. "What we found is that women seemed to have more ‘stuff' in their offices, from makeup bags to pictures of family and purses on their desks," he says. "It added up to big numbers for women, even though their offices typically looked cleaner."
In his studies, Gerba found that, on average, women's offices had the germiest telephones, computer keyboards, computer mice and pens, while men's offices had the most bacteria-ridden desks. But men still win the prize for the germiest item of all: Gerba says that much to his surprise, men's wallets were the single germiest item in any office--four times worse than women's purses.
How to Be Germ-FreeAll this germ talk leads us to our next topic: office sickness. Gerba points out that thanks to their high-bacteria counts, New York offices experience the highest number of viruses and colds.
So how can you protect your office from becoming a comfortable spot for bacteria to grow? Gerba suggests these simple steps:
Wipe down your desk and surrounding items with a disinfecting wipe once a week.
Keep a hand sanitizer at your desk and use it throughout the day.
If you tend to eat at your desk on a regular basis, think again--this behavior is inviting bacteria to grow at your fingertips.
Wash coffee mugs and glasses on a regular basis.
If you're sick, don't go to work.
By using these tips, employees and employers could potentially cut absenteeism in half. That means reducing the typical two-to-three colds per employee each year. That figure doubles for workers with children.
It's a simple solution for a nasty issue. And offices across the nation are taking notice: Gerba says he's noticed a decline in the number of bacteria in most offices he's tested over the last four years thanks to the use of antibacterial products. "We see more use of disinfectants and hand sanitizers than we used to in offices," he notes. If office hygiene hasn't been adopted yet in your workplace, now's the time to set some guidelines and arm employees with the protection they need to ward off unwanted desk buddies.
For more tips on keeping your office germ-free, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Genistein? Soy vey...

Supplements containing a soy compound called genistein may help increase women's bone mass after menopause, a study suggests. Researchers found that a combination of genistein, calcium and vitamin D helped protect postmenopausal women's bone density better than calcium and vitamin D alone. In fact, women who took the soy compound showed a modest increase in bone density over two years, compared with a small decrease among women who used only calcium and vitamin D, the researchers report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

More information about recalled toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Mattel Inc., announced the recall of: About 253,000 "Sarge" die cast toy cars, because of lead paint hazards. About 7.3 million play sets with various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets, because the magnets can come loose, posing a hazard if swallowed or aspirated. About 1 million Doggie Day Care play sets, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets, and 345,000 Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets, again because they have small magnets inside that can fall out. Although most parents are aware of the hazards from lead paint, many don't know that small magnets can be dangerous.

Finding "Compassionate Love"

Research shows the path to finding 'compassionate love'
By Susan Brink
Los Angeles Times
August 15, 2007

Beyond the chemistry of passion and romance, at the intersection of feeling and understanding, lies the hope of happily ever after.Researchers call this state companionate love — the kind of love people feel after years of arguments, joy, tragedies and successes mutually felt. To arrive there, couples have to get on the road to success pretty quickly. About a third of divorces occur after just four years of marriage, according to Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, psychologist at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Here are some success tips from relationship experts, based on surveys of couples in relationships that have lasted:
Couples who stay together kid themselves a bit. For example, they typically underestimate their partners' interest in others."If you show people pictures of attractive men and women and ask how their partner will look at this person, they underestimate the person's attractiveness to their partner," says Gian Gonzaga, senior research scientist at eHarmony Labs. "It turns out that's actually good because we're not constantly worrying and obsessing.

"They don't update their images of each other. "People stick with their initial view," Gonzaga says. "As people get older, they get less attractive, but we don't update."It's why Katharine Hepburn's character in On Golden Pond could look at the aging, crabby character played by Henry Fonda and declare: "You're my knight in shining armor."

They have a story, and they stick to it. Robert Sternberg, dean of the school of arts and science at Tufts University, has researched this and has come up with about two dozen relationship stories, some good, some bad.The "fairy tale story" has a prince and a princess; the "visionist story" is a business model, accumulating homes, goods and successful children; the "travel story" says that life is a journey; the "police story" divides the partners' roles into cop and perp, with the former constantly monitoring the latter; the "war story" means that two people expect constant fights."What our research shows is that couples tend to be more satisfied if they have matching story profiles," Sternberg says. Pair a fairy tale believer with a war story believer and "it won't work," he says.

Anxiety or depression is relationship poison. "Do everything you can to make yourself less anxious and depressed," says Arthur Aron, psychologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

The best predictor of divorce, Aron says, has little to do with love, even less to do with initial attraction. It has to do with the availability of other options.If people are happy, other options are less appealing and they're more likely to stay married. If they're unhappy but can't imagine an alternative that isn't even worse, again, they'll stay married. (This is the probable reason many abused women stay in their relationships.)But if someone is gorgeous, rich and hot, he or she might have difficulty sticking with one mate. "Movie stars have a hard time because they constantly have great alternatives thrust in front of them," Aron says.

A cure for monthly migraines?

A drug used to treat acute migraine can be safely taken long term to prevent some of the migraines women may experience around the time of their period, research shows. Results of the study indicate that naratriptan twice daily is well tolerated when taken for 6 continuous days per month for up to 1 year for the prevention of menstruation-related migraine.

Obesity and attendance

In the first study of how weight may affect school attendance, researchers have found that overweight children are at greater risk of school absenteeism than their normal-weight peers. The study found that overweight children were absent on average 20 percent more than their normal-weight peers. The study builds on others that show that the medical and psychosocial consequences of being overweight are numerous and still being discovered. The disadvantages that arise from missing school such as increased drug use, increased rates of pregnancy and poor academic performance have been previously documented. Meanwhile, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled in the United States during the past 25 years.

Recalls

Nokia cell-phone batteries made in China could, in rare cases, overheat and even dislodge during recharning.

A tire importer is recalling 255,000 Chinese-made tires that could be lacking a safety feature that prevents thread separation. The recall by Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. involves Westlake, Compass and YKS brand tires bought from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. since 2002.

Toys "R" Us Inc. announced it would remove all vinyl baby bibs from its Toy "R" Us and Babies "R" Us shelves. The removal a precaution after two bibs made in China for one supplier showed lead levels that exceeded Toys "R" Us standards. The bibs were supplied by Hamco Inc. and marketed under the Koala Baby, Especially for Baby, and Disney Baby labels. You can return any vinyl bib purchased at Toys "R" Us or Babies "R" Us for a full refund. More information available at 1-800-869-7787

The Mattel voluntary safety recall includes a large number of toys. The products have been potentially affected by lead and/or magnets.

Forgo time wasters

8 Ways to Save Time at Home
By Sara Droman
4 Fast and Fun Cleaning Time-Savers
When you think of home, you probably imagine it as a place of rest. After a long day at work, you look forward to going home and relaxing, connecting with family and friends, maybe reading a novel in the hammock or puttering around the garden. Unfortunately, stacks of bills, dirty dishes, and that never-ending pile of laundry can make home as hectic as the office. Want to spend more time enjoying your home and less time tending to it? Our experts offer eight time-saving tips.
1. Do a Pre-Emptive Strike on Dirt
Want to spend less time cleaning? Laura Dellutri, author of Speed-Cleaning 101, says that the bottom of our shoes accounts for 85 percent of the dirt that comes into our homes. The solution: "Place mats at the entrance of your home. People can wipe their shoes, and you'll reduce the amount of dirt coming in -- and the amount you'll have to clean later," says Dellutri. You could also take a tip from most Asian cultures and leave your shoes at the door. After all, what's more relaxing than bare feet?
2. Consolidate Cleaning Supplies
Put all of your cleaning supplies into one container -- a cleaning caddy, five-gallon pail or laundry basket -- so that you can easily carry them from room to room. "This will shave time off your cleaning routine, because you won't have to stop to retrieve missing tools or products, says Dellutri. She also suggests carrying a few damp cloths over your shoulder. "These can be used to clean 90 percent of the surfaces in your home and will save you time running back and forth to the sink," she says.
3. Listen While You Work
Don't have time to read? Listen to books on tape or CD while you're cooking and cleaning. "I know some people who could get the equivalent of an associate's degree from all the books they've listened to," says Stack.
4. Discard Junk Mail Immediately
Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff, suggests keeping a recycling bin in your entryway or near the mailbox. "Sift through the mail you wish to keep. Discard the rest in the box for easy recycling," says Hohlbaum. This way you eliminate clutter before it has a chance to accumulate.
4 Time-Wasters to Give Up

5. Stock Up on Replacements
Remember the last time you dashed to the store because you ran out of an essential, like toilet paper or coffee filters? Chances are, you made a single trip and stood in line buying one or two items because you needed them immediately. Laura Stack, author of Find More Time, says that you can eliminate these time-wasting trips with one simple rule: Instead of buying coffee after you run out, buy two bags at a time, so you always have a replacement bag on hand.
"When I open a new bag of cat litter, that's when I write on my list that I need more," says Stack. This list is magnetized to the refrigerator door so that everyone in her family can do the same. "My kids know that if they want something, they have to put it on the list. As we say in my house, 'if it's not on the list, it doesn't exist,'" says Stack.
6. Record Your Favorite Television Shows
Studies of television-viewing habits show that men watch an average of 2.7 hours of television a day, and women watch an average of 2.3 hours a day, or over 16 hours a week! So Stack asks her clients to consider what would happen if they reduced their TV-viewing by five hours a week. "That's eleven days a year -- think of what you could do with eleven extra days!" she says. The best way to reduce your time in front of the tube is to choose which shows you want to watch ahead of time, and then record them. This eliminates random flipping around, and it means you won't have to watch commercials -- the ultimate time-suck.
7. Make Your Kids Self-Sufficient
If you have young children, Stack suggests setting up the kitchen so that they can help themselves when they want breakfast or a snack. Put all the kids' plates, bowls, and utensils on a low shelf or drawer that they can easily reach, and pour milk into small, easy-pour containers. Keep the refrigerator stocked with healthy, easy-to-serve snacks like cheese sticks and applesauce. "Then they are less dependent on you, and you don't have to drop everything each time they want a snack," says Stack. Making them more autonomous can also increase their confidence. "We just told my 5-year-old that he's old enough to take his own baths. At first he said, 'No, I want you to do it!' But now that he's bathing himself, he's really proud of himself."
8. Divide Decisions
Stack says that her husband refuses to answer when friends or family inquire about getting together. "He just says my wife is the social coordinator. You'll have to ask her," she says. If you're fortunate enough to have a partner you love and trust, then divide up the family decisions. If your husband is the family chef, let him decide what you'll eat. You can pay him back by making the decisions about the car insurance and mutual funds. "Be okay with not having your hands in every pot," says Stack. After all, your hammock is waiting.
Originally published on FitnessMagazine.com, August 2006.

Are your kids overscheduled and stressed?

Road to stress is paved with good parental intentions
By Heather Wines, Gannett News Service
Donna Ernst and her daughter, McKinzie Schultz, 12, sit with their cocker spaniel, Daisy, near their Crofton, Md., home. McKinzie has had a busy summer. Shortly after school ended in June, she attended sailing camp, then a week-long adventure camp, followed by softball camp and Girl Scouts camp. Her mom says her school year was even busier.By Lottie L. Joiner, Gannett News Service
McKinzie Schultz has had a busy summer. Shortly after school ended in June, the 12-year-old attended a sailing camp near her home in Crofton, Md. Then there was the week-long adventure camp, followed by softball camp and Girl Scouts camp.
The school year was even busier. McKinzie, whose day would begin at 6:30 a.m. and end around 10:30 p.m., was scheduled nearly every day with some type of extracurricular activity, including art classes, softball and math tutoring. And the weekends, says her mother, Donna Ernst, "are never free."
"I want to expose her to as many things to make her a well-rounded person," says Ernst, 34. "By introducing her to different things, I'm showing her the real world, all sides of life. She can get an art scholarship, academic scholarship or athletic scholarship."
Ernst says her daughter, an A student, is doing things she enjoys.
"When she was young, I pushed her into stuff like ballet and soccer," says Ernst, who is divorced. "Now she says what she wants to do. She really doesn't get stressed out — not that I know of."
Ernst is like many parents who fill their kids' afternoons and evenings with programmed activities, hoping to prepare them for a competitive future.
The 21st-century child has a MySpace page, a cellphone and a flurry of academic and artistic pursuits designed to help him or her navigate a high-tech world.
Most experts agree that extracurricular activities are good for kids. But what happens when the actions of well-meaning parents lead to teens who are overwhelmed and overburdened in their quest to reach the Ivy League?
"It may be intuitively clear to parents that they have to push kids because it's a very competitive world, but they may be doing more harm than good because they may not be nourishing the kinds of abilities and skills that are most necessary in today's world," says David Elkind, a psychologist and professor of child development at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
MORE ON KIDS' ACTIVITIES: Signs of too much scheduling
The kinds of abilities and skills that Elkind, author of The Power of Play and The Hurried Child, are referring to include creativity and innovation — skills children acquire naturally during free, unstructured play time, he says.
Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a report touting the benefits of play. The report found play "essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children."
The lack of self-initiated play and the opportunity to learn critical skills during play is a result of overscheduling that can have a devastating impact on a child's future success.
Denise Pope, a lecturer at Stanford University's School of Education and founder and director of the college's Stressed Out Students Project, says some students burn out before they reach college.
"A lot of these kids, they get to college and say 'Now I can live. I can breathe,' " Pope says.
"But what happens is that they overschedule themselves again. Some of these kids only know how to be scheduled, and that's a problem."
The result is kids who know how to multitask and work on a team but who are living someone else's dream of who they are. Pope says university mental-health clinics are full of stressed college students, and businesses are increasingly disappointed in the graduates.
"They're not seeing the leadership skills they need," Pope says. "They want someone who's willing to take risks, be creative, someone who can think outside the box."
Even more important is the impact of overscheduling on family well-being. "If family life is being sacrificed, then marriage suffers," says Alvin Rosenfeld, author of The Overscheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap and co-author of Hyper-Parenting: Are You Hurting Your Child by Trying Too Hard?
Of course, no one is calling for children to just sit home and watch hours of TV or play video games, but when extracurricular activities get in the way of functions that help build character and morality, parents must rethink their priorities, Rosenfeld says.
"When our family life takes a back seat to soccer games, something's wrong."

American women have increased in size

American women have gotten fatter as it has become more socially acceptable to carry a few extra pounds, according to a new study. As Americans continue to super-size their value meals, the average weight of the population increases and people slowly adjust their perceptions of appropriate body weight. While it seems thinness is increasingly idealized in popular culture -- images of waif-like models and stick-thin celebrities are everywhere -- there is a gap between the cultural imagery and the weights that most people consider acceptable for themselves and others.

Pregnancy diet makes huge difference

Researchers are warning pregnant women that a penchant for junk food may be condemning their children to crave the same diet. The researchers arrived at this conclusion when they discovered that pregnant rats who were fed a diet of biscuits, chips and sweets, had young who preferred to eat unhealthy food. Research has already shown that diet in early life can literally shape people's future, laying down the foundations for obesity and heart disease; dieticians too have stressed the importance of a balanced diet for mothers-to-be. This latest research however suggests that eating too much of the wrong food while carrying a child could be potentially harmful.

Discovery Cove visits LITE FM

A few of the lovely creatures from Discovery Cove paid LITE FM a visit this morning. We heard about Star, the Two-Toed Sloth, Golden Conures, and Kookaburras. A limit to only 1,000 guests per day, Discovery Cove is exclusive... and all inclusive! Discovery Cove also fully involved in conservation efforts, committed to protecting and preserving wildlife and the environment the world over. Jeff Martin recently visited Discovery Cove and gives it two-toes up!

Toys on the recall list

A massive recall of toys, over 19 billion in fact. The main reason for the recall of these Chinese-made toys is that they're either tainted with lead or are somehow hazardous to children.
A list of the recalled toys.

Help your teen doesn't need

They're called pro-eating disorder Web sites. And many teens looking to lose weight -- even those who don't need to -- are logging on to these communities of individuals who engage in dangerous eating habits. Yet many parents aren't aware the sites even exist and that their children are visiting them, researchers have found. Complicating matters, "pro-recovery" sites that promote recovery from eating disorders can also be a source of weight-loss or purging techniques, the researchers found.

Coffee and memory

Perk up the memory girls with three cups of coffee a day! A new study has found that drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may helped protect older women's memories. The study suggest that coffee protects women from some of the age-related memory decline. The researchers found that the more coffee drank, the better the effects seemed to be on women's memory functioning in particular, but men did not enjoy the same benefit. The effect also appeared to be age related with women over 80 having more benefits from the caffeine beverages than those who were 10 to 15 years younger.

Do you spend too much on your kids?

Are You Spending Too Much on Your Kids?
By Jane Bryant Quinn

Parents Who Pay Too MuchAre you one of them? You don't have to crunch any numbers to find out — just answer these seven questions:
If your kid asks for something special, will you buy it today instead of waiting for a birthday or the holidays?
If you have children older than 7, do you purchase what they need or want without asking them to contribute from their allowance or earnings?
Do you grumble about your kids' cell phone bills but pay them anyway?
Do you feel you have to throw big birthday parties because that's what other families in the neighborhood do?
In the kids' rooms, are there more toys and belongings than empty floor space?
Do you let your kids shop with your credit card without setting any limits?
Do you spend much more freely on your children than you do on yourself?
If you answered "yes" to more than two questions, you're probably spending too much on your kids.
What made me snap when I started looking at how much parents pay to raise their kids? Maybe it was seeing all those $400 Nintendo Wiis and $200 iPod Nanos fly off the shelves. Or perhaps it was the $10,000 "princess party" for a 3-year-old. Or the $879 Bugaboo "travel system" (that's the term for a high-end baby stroller).
This kind of overspending is not good for kids or their parents —because, unless you're in the top income bracket, the only way to give your children everything they want (or everything marketers tell you they should have) is to neglect your own retirement saving. And the message you're sending, meanwhile, is that money grows on trees. Or at least on Mommy and Daddy.
"Spending too much" is a value judgment, of course, not a specific number. On average, couples with two kids and a household income in the middle range ($43,200 to $72,600) spend $7,493 a year on each child, from birth to age 17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (The per-child total rises to $11,234 if you count their share of the cost of maintaining your home, such as insurance, mortgage interest, and utilities.) While those aren't princess-party budgets, spending much more than the averages may be overdoing it — and can even lead to credit card debt and other money troubles. A recent study by Robert Manning, Ph.D., professor of consumer finance at RIT in Rochester, NY, found that parents use credit more freely when buying for their children than when shopping for themselves.
Another way to define "too much" is to ask yourself this: If you're in your 30s, are you putting at least 10 percent of your income into a retirement plan? If you're in your 40s or 50s, are you saving 15 percent? If you're nowhere close to those goals, you may be spending too much on your family lifestyle, and your child-related costs are a good place to consider cutting back.
What Your Kids Can Do
One way to control spending is, surprisingly, to give your child more financial responsibility, says Janet Bodnar, author of Money Smart Women.
Starting at 6 or so, kids should have allowances and use them to pay for certain expenses. For example, 8-year-olds might finance their own trading cards, snacks, or hair ornaments. By 12, they can pay for their DVD rentals and iTunes purchases. (Have them scour stores and the Web for the lowest prices and show you their research.) By 16, they should have a fixed clothing allowance — that way, if they want $100 jeans, they'll see that the only way to buy them is to cut back on everything else. When they're older, part-time jobs should help cover their cell phone bills and gasoline. Giving your kids limits takes the pressure off you.
How large a weekly allowance should you give each child? That depends. If you'd like your son to budget for his own video games, he'll need a bigger allowance than if you're paying for them yourself. But this point is crucial: Don't ride to the rescue if the money runs out. If you set up clear house rules and stick to them, your kids will learn to make the choices they need for a secure, happy financial future of their own.
How You Can Cut Back
Be skimpy with baby and toddler purchases. Buy as little as possible because kids this age outgrow things so fast. If you've never shopped for your children on eBay, try it now, advise Steve and Annette Economides, authors of the money-saving handbook America's Cheapest Family. You'll find good and lightly used toys and books at low prices. (Before buying used baby furniture, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Website — cpsc.gov — to ensure that the item wasn't recalled for safety reasons.) Also check out local parenting Websites (such as urbanbaby.com) for inexpensive equipment, clothes, and toys that other parents are looking to unload. And don't forget garage sales.
Scale down birthday parties. Forget what the neighbors do. You convey your values to your children by doing what you think is right, not by exhausting yourself with a party that breaks your budget. At the end of each backyard birthday for one of my sons, I filled water buckets, passed out squirt guns, and let the kids give one another (and me!) a soaking. It was always the party of the year. To chat with supportive parents, go to birthdayswithoutpressure.com.
Pay for less entertainment. Do you buy premium cable channels for your kids but not for yourself? Do you cram their schedules with lessons that require special equipment? With teens, do you pay to enroll them in summer programs instead of encouraging them to get jobs? Each of these individual decisions might make sense, but collectively they can put you over budget.
Control cell phone costs. Kids clamor for phones, to download music, e-mail pictures, and text message their friends. If this is the way their group keeps in touch, it's an expense you'll probably have to swallow. But costs can easily skyrocket, so choose a prepaid service with limited minutes. Or tell the kids that you'll pay for basic service only — they'll have to spend their own money for overage charges, text messages, and ring tones. They'll get frugal, fast.
Brace yourself for some whining. It can be hard to say no to kids — and if you try it, they may unleash their most fearsome weapons: guilt trips, grumbling, etc. Stand your ground. They may whine for a while, but they won't love you any less. In the long run, your children will learn valuable lessons in money management — and you'll be closer to a safe, financially secure retirement.
Is Your Spending Normal?
Here's the yearly average of what middle-income American parents shell out for each kid. See how you compare
Food ................$1,916
Transportation................$1,629
Child care/education................$1,324
Miscellaneous (entertainment, personal care, etc.) .........$1,193
Health care................$851
Clothing................$580
Source: 2005 USDA report, Expenditures on Children by Families

Double-check your infant's car seat

Researchers are warning parents of young babies that the dangers of sudden death exist when babies are seated, and not only when they are lying down. The researchers say very young babies are particularly vulnerable to sudden death, when seated and babies less than a month old are most at risk. It was found that though premature babies were not at greater risk, those aged under a month, were almost four times as likely to die suddenly while seated as were older babies. In the group of unexplained deaths babies under one month old were more than seven times as likely to die while seated. The authors say their research indicates that the rate of deaths among seated babies is relatively small at just over 3%, and there are no questions about the necessity or safety of car seats, but extra care should be taken for very young babies in any type of infant seat.

Women with migraines beware

Women who suffer from migraines that are accompanied by visual symptoms -- usually called an aura -- are at a slightly increased risk of stroke, especially if they smoke and take oral contraceptives, a new study says. One stroke expert said the new study adds to research that had already found that migraines with aura increase the risk of stroke in women. The findings are published in the September issue of the journal Stroke.

Secrets to a long and happy marriage

Have you ever wondered "what is the secret to a long and happy marriage?" Our collection of tried and true tips will help you answer that very question! These secrets to a happy marriage come straight from the horse's mouth -- those who are happily hitched!
(Romancestuck.com)

1. Never assume.
2. Compliment more than you criticize.
3. For each time you vent about your husband/wife to your friends, tell three positive stories.
4. Remember that it is ok to do things differently (e.g. there is more than one way to peel a potato or fold the laundry).
5. Always make time for the two of you.
6. Marry someone that you enjoy listening and talking to.
7. Remember that marriage is sometimes a bed of roses and sometimes there are thorns.
8. Remember that the best gift that you can give your children is to love their mother/father.
9. Be fair! Split the housework, spending money, etc evenly. This way you are never resentful of your partners contributions (or lack of) or expenditures.
10. Never go to bed angry. (Unless it's 3a.m. and you're exhausted, angry, and not thinking straight.)
For the rest of the list click here.

The secret to success is....FOOD!

From Quick & Simple magazine- Some quick ways to eat your way toward a better night's sleep, a better job, and a better outlook on life:

1. Find yourself tossing and turning through the night? Try eating a bowl of whole grain cereal with skim milk, about one hour before bedtime.

2. If you want a promotion, make sure to eat breakfast! It'll give your brain the fuel to stay focused throughout the day, and breakfast eaters have lower levels of cortisone, the stress hormone, which will impress your boss because you stay so calm and cool under pressure. Yogurt with blueberries is a great addition to a healthy lunch.

3. Want to look more positively at the world around you? Low levels of B-12 and B-6 can lead to foul moods and crankiness, and bananas are loaded with B vitamins! Have a small bit of dark chocolate with your banana, or dip it in some chocolate! Recent studies show the "feel-good" chemicals released in your brain when you eat chocolate, and combining it with the banana will make your mood improve even more quickly.

Brown bag lunch ideas

Kid Friendly Feasts

1. Core an apple and stuff the inside with peanut butter. Top with raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds or toasted coconut. The filling will keep the cut apple from turning brown.
2. Cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, or spread bread with cream cheese and top with dried fruits like raisins, apples or apricots.
3. Mash a banana together with cream cheese and top with fresh apple, pineapple or peach slices.
4. Pack fresh fruit with yogurt dip.
5. Make fancy sandwiches by cutting shapes out of the bread with a cookie cutter (use the crusts and scraps to make breadcrumbs or croutons). Kids love the novelty and will be more apt to finish their lunch.
6. Use lunchtime as a bonding opportunity with your child, include a special little note with each lunch. If you need inspiration check out this wonderful book Napkins: Lunchbag Notes from Dad.

Overweight middle class kids

Researchers say children from wealthy middle class homes are more likely to be overweight or obese than those from poorer backgrounds.

The findings to some extent dispel the myth that the poorest families have the worst diets as they suggest that the risk of obesity is greatly increased in line with family income. The researchers put this down to the rise in the numbers of highly-paid working mothers - who are often forced to leave a child in the care of a nanny or a nursery who take over control of the child's diet and physical exercise. Other suspected factors include a high consumption of snack foods and sweetened drinks, long hours spent watching television and low rates of breastfeeding which has been found to prevent obesity.

Breast augmentation and suicide

Women who undergo cosmetic breast augmentation surgeries are three times as likely to commit suicide as those who don't have surgically enhanced breasts, a new study finds.

The increase in suicide risk does not emerge until about 10 years or more after women receive the implants, the research shows. As to why the risk became statistically significant only later on, researchers speculated that, "it's possible that some women who may have had psychiatric illness prior to the implant may experience improvement in psychological functioning in the short term [after implant], but it's not sustained. So, 10 or 20 years out, there may be a recurrence or worsening of psychiatric problems."

Top 4 skin care myths

Cosmopolitan Magazine beauty editors bust through the top four skin-care myths -- shared by both men and women -- and set you on your way to healthier and happier epidermis:

1. True or false: People can get addicted to their favorite lip balm.
False: Balms just make your lips look and feel soft so the tendency is to keep reapplying them after they wear off. The real issue is the lip licking. According to Dr. Kenneth Beer in Palm Beach, Florida, "The constant wetting and drying becomes a habit, and that's what depletes moisture." Stick to balms that contain petrolatum, glycerin or mineral -- and they won't rub off easily.

2. True or false: The more SPF products you layer on, the higher you level of sun protection. False: If you're wearing various layers of SPF, you're only protected up to the highest number that you put on." So a 30 moisturizer plus a SPF 10 powder equals a 30. Period.

3. True or false: Eating chocolate and greasy foods will make your skin break out.
False: The only foods that may worsen your acne are sushi, shellfish and soy sauce, says Dr Diane Berson, a New York City-based dermatologist. The reason they'll do that is because they all contain high amounts of iodine, which has been linked to breakouts.

4. True or false: Dry skin cause wrinkles.
False: Wrinkles form where collagen breaks down. Moisturizer can improve the look - but temporarily. But the number one cause of this collagen degeneration? Sun exposure.

The coming hot jobs:

A new list has been released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the top occupations with the largest projected growth over the next seven years. Most of these jobs have earnings that fall within the top 25 percent for workers overall, and most require a college degree.

Occupations With the Largest Projected Growth Through 2014:

1. Registered Nurses: 703,000 new jobs
2. Postsecondary Teachers: 524,000 new jobs
3. Nursing Aides, Orderlies, Attendants: 325,000 new jobs
4. Management: 308,000 new jobs
5. Elementary School Teachers: 265,000 new jobs
6. Accountants: 264,000 new jobs
7. Computer Software Engineers: 222,000 new jobs
8. Computer Systems Analysts: 153,000 new jobs
(AOL)

New moms watch your weight

While weight and obesity have long concerned women in relation to body image and lifestyle issues, few are aware of the possible risks that fluctuating weight could have on their unborn child, according to a study.

The key message, say the authors, is that women of normal weight should avoid gaining weight between pregnancies, while overweight and obese women are likely to benefit from weight loss before becoming pregnant. Most women want to achieve the best start in life for their babies, they add. This could be a powerful motivational factor in helping them change the way they eat.

MRI vs Mammogram

MRI appears to be better than mammograms at finding breast cancer before it spreads, researchers report.

However, despite the technology's advantages, its cost and a lack of people skilled at reading breast MRIs means it won't replace mammograms any time soon, experts say. Also, MRI was not associated with many false positive findings. There's one big downside, however: MRI is very expensive compared with mammography. The American Cancer Society does recommend that women who are at high risk for breast cancer get an MRI in addition to their yearly mammogram.

Kids living with single dads

A new study says, children living in the custody of single fathers are less likely to have access to affordable health care and visit the doctor less often compared to children living in families with a single mother or both parents.

Although single fathers are less likely to be poor and generally earn more money than single mothers, their children are more likely to visit the doctor only when sick. The number of single-father families in the United States quintupled between 1970 and 2003 to approximately 6 percent of all families, and single-father families are one of the types of families that are growing fastest.

Until recently, most research on single-parent families focused on single mothers and the effects of an absent father on children.

Exercise and Diabetes

Moderate exercise, such as walking 30 minutes a day, may offer better protection against diabetes and heart disease than a more rigorous workout regimen, concludes a U.S. study that included 240 middle-age, sedentary people.

Perhaps even more surprising is that some of the benefits achieved through moderate exercise seem to last much longer than the benefits gained through more intense training. The study also found that low amount/moderate intensity exercise significantly lowered levels of triglycerides, which are particles that carry fat around the body and are also a good indicator of insulin resistance, a marker for diabetes. Reducing triglyceride levels lowers a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Turn back the clock!

How to take off 10 years or more—and look and feel better than ever.

Tips on tipping

When you go out to dinner do you tip 15 or 20%? Do you tip on tax? Most people tip 20% but find out why.

Tip of the week: You are where you eat

It’s not just what you eat that matters. How you dine can play a major role in your weight and digestive well-being.

Do you eat in the dark, over the sink or at work? Find out how the location of your next meal can affect your waistline.

It's too dog-gone hot!

Ah, summer, when a dog's thoughts focus more than ever on the great outdoors, and how to spend as much time there as possible. The living may be easy, but summertime can also be rife with pet hazards that range from dehydration to heatstroke to drowning.
The first rule of summer safety is to keep hydrated, so make clean water always available, and keep the toilet seat up and the bowl free of chemical sanitizers in case the supply runs out. Protect pets from the sun's blaze by providing ample shade, especially at midday (and don't tie dogs outside without shelter).

Avoid walking dogs on scorching pavement, and remember sidewalks can retain heat well into the evening. If conditions are steamy all day, don't bring Fido with you to an outdoor café; the pavement will be too hot for him to sit or lie down. Leave him at home in climate-controlled comfort, and bring him a doggie bag. Certain breeds, such as the St. Bernard, prefer wintry climates, so don't stint on air conditioning.

Two inventions that define summer — the swimming pool and the automobile — can be risky for pets. Never, ever leave any animal in a parked car (even with the windows open, it will become deadly hot in minutes), and prevent pets from drowning with Safety Turtle, a sensor that attaches to the animal's collar, linked to a wireless base station; if the pet falls into the water, an alarm sounds (also, "close" the pool when not in use with a sturdy cover by Looploc.com).
Examine your pet's coat several times daily for ticks; if you find one, stun the varmint with a drop of cold vodka (keep a bottle in the freezer), then remove it carefully with tweezers. Repel ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies with nontoxic Herbal Gold Parasite Dust, which desiccates an insect's exoskeleton yet won't harm mammals (buckmountainbotanicals.com).

Another global summer hazard this month and next: flood season. Learn from experienced rescuers how to prepare yourself to save pets in the event of a natural disaster by visiting Muttshack.org (the online course is free).
By Julia Szabo

Sexual Predator Website

You should know who lives in your neighborhood. Especially if they are a convicted sexual predator. Find out now at this site.

BOLO Alert!!!

A BSO deputy has been shot and killed this morning. Deputy Chris Reyka was shot behind a Pompano Beach Walgreen's. He saw two cars parked in the back. He got out of his car to investigate, when police say he was ambushed. Police are still searching for the shooter. They're on the look out for a white sedan, possibly a Crown Victoria between the years of 1991 and 1993.

51 year old deputy Chris Reyka was pronounced dead at North Broward Medical Center. Reyka, an 18-year veteran of the Broward Sheriff's Office has four children, one in college and one serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

A 10 thousand dollar reward has been issued for information about his killer. Police are now engaged in a massive hunt for suspects.

Diet food is not for kids

Researchers say diet foods may be contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity because they may inadvertently lead children to overeat.

The researchers conducted tests on young rats, and found when the animals were given low-calorie versions of foods they overate regardless of whether they were lean or obese. The researchers suspect that low-calorie versions of usually high-calorie foods disrupt the body's ability to use taste to regulate calorific intake and they say diet foods are probably not a good idea for growing youngsters.

Monkey see monkey do with plastic surgery

Reality TV shows focused on plastic surgery can boost viewers' own interest in these types of procedures, a new study finds.
Shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan also make those who watch them frequently feel more knowledgeable about plastic surgery, compared to those who don't watch as much of this reality fare. "The more they watched the shows, the more interested" they became in plastic surgery, said Dr. John Persing, the senior author and a plastic surgeon at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

Plastics Chemical of 'Some Concern' for Fetal, Child Health

Bisphenol A, a chemical found in many plastics and resins, may present some risk to a developing fetus and children, a U.S. government panel concluded yesterday.

BPA is chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. It is found in products used everyday such as compact discs, DVDs, baby bottles and other food and drink packaging. It is also commonly found in cars, sports safety equipment and water pipes.

"The panel's finding means that we cannot dismiss the fact that exposure to this substance may be causing effects on reproductive health," CERHR Director Michael D. Shelby said. However, "It's going to take more research to verify what those effects are," he said.

In addition, exposure to BPA has been blamed for a variety of other problems, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and attention deficit disorder. Exposure to BPA can occur through direct contact or by exposure to food or drink that has been in contact with material containing BPA.

Overweight kids may have it rough

Three times as many 6- to 17-year-olds are overweight now than 30 years ago. Being overweight or obese can significantly affect kids' daily way of life, potentially causing serious physical and psychological problems now and in the future, says a recent study.

According to the study, kids and teens carrying around excess pounds may be the targets of bias and stereotyping not only from their peers, but also teachers and, surprisingly, their parents. Kids who are overweight frequently experience unfair treatment, prejudice, and discrimination. And, according to the study, the cruel treatment and social disadvantages associated with being overweight may have lasting, harmful effects on everything from kids' physical health to their education, from their relationships to their jobs.

Should texting while driving be outlawed?

A poll out this week found that 89 percent of respondents believe text messaging while driving is dangerous and should be outlawed, while at the same time 66 percent admitted to either reading or sending the messages while behind the wheel. The Harris Interactive survey found that, not surprisingly, 64 percent of those who admitted texting while driving were aged 18 to 34, while just six percent were 55 or older.

Washington state in May passed the first U.S. ban on texting while driving, and at least six other states are considering similar legislation.

Drive safe!

100 ways to entertain you kids cheap

100. Fingerpainting

99. Rhyme games

98. Hide and Seek

97. Animal Noises

96. Sock Puppets

95. How high can you count?

94. Have fun with hairstyles

93. Tea Party

92. Hot Potato

91. Monkey-arms

90. Rock-Paper-Scissors

For the rest just click here.

Make time for homework

After a summer packed with evening activities and outdoor fun, getting back in the habit of doing homework can be a difficult transition—for kids and parents. Finding time to do homework is another challenge all together!
Use these ideas to finagle room in your schedule—and help your kids focus on the subject at hand.

Keep the TV off! TV is noisy and distracting—especially when your child needs to focus on their multiplication tables. Instead, try putting on relaxing or fun music to establish a mood that encourages concentration—and TiVo the news for later.

To make sure you have enough time for homework, prep dinner ingredients in the morning or on the weekend. Prewash and cut veggies for salads and side dishes. Marinate meats and chicken. Make sauces. When you come home during the week, you can throw the meal together in a fraction of the time. Need to save more time? Dust off the crock pot!

Severe premenstrual depression

Scientists believe they have found a possible genetic link to an increased risk of severe premenstrual depression, says an article published on Forbes.com.

Severe premenstrual depression occurs in women diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. Although PMDD is classified as a psychiatric disorder, the cause of both, the less severe form PMS, and PMDD has been thought to be hormonal. According to the article, scientists now believe that this new discovery may help to explain why some women are more susceptible to severe premenstrual depression that other women.

Where do kids get their smokes?

Tobacco products often aren't hard for teens to come by. They can usually bum a cigarette from friends or sometimes even buy smokes or smokeless tobacco from retailers that unknowingly, or carelessly, sell to minors.

Turns out, convenience stores selling gas were the most likely to sell tobacco to minors, say the researchers, who cited multitasking and the quick gas-n-go nature of the business as likely reasons. Grocery stores were next in line for underage tobacco sales. And clerks who were female or under 18 had "very high" sales to kids and teens. Regardless of where kids get their tobacco, it's important for them to understand that experimentation can quickly turn into a highly addictive habit.

Lightning Safety Tips

Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a storm, the maximum distance to hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance.Avoid being outdoors during a storm.
Seek shelter in a house or car. Do not try to take cover near trees — 30 percent of lightning deaths happen under trees.

If you're inside, avoid corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that could put you in direct contact with an electric current. Buy surge suppressors for key equipment.

Wait 30 minutes after the last strike before going outside.

Call 911 if you see someone struck by lightning. Cardiac arrest, burns and nerve damage are common injuries. With proper treatment, including CPR, most victims can survive a strike.Helping a lightning victim won't put you in danger. The charge will not affect you.

SOURCE: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Spit happens!

You’ve heard the school-yard taunt: “Say it don’t spray it!” Well, some people can’t help it! The saliva they produce ends up spraying people when they speak. Well, visualize a quart of milk. According to Dr. Denis Lynch from the Marquette University School of Dentistry, that’s how much saliva a healthy adult produces every day. Most people swallow it without a second thought – but if you’re a sprayer, it’s possible you have “easily squeezed saliva glands.” You don’t actually have more saliva than a normal person – but some people can squirt saliva just by opening their mouths and lifting their tongues.

Another explanation is you may be experiencing a side effect from another condition. Regular heartburn and pregnancy related ailments like morning sickness and gastric reflux can cause hyper-salivation. But if you take care of the heartburn, reflux or nausea, the saliva squirting will go away on its own.

If you’re just a natural squirter, sipping water regularly or chewing sugarless gum can reduce spraying by encouraging you to swallow more often. Also, try not to open your mouth so wide when you speak. Because you make more saliva when you eat, don’t talk with your mouth full.

5 Things you shouldn't do after you say "I do"

Once the cake’s cut and the bouquet’s tossed, it’s time to get down to the business of living as husband and wife. But that’s not as easy as it sounds! Here are the five things you SHOULDN’T do after you say “I do.” This comes from Web MD:

Don’t say, “My family always does it this way.” Everything you think about a relationship, from how to spend money to who does which chores, comes from your family. And guess what? So does everything your spouse believes! Think of building your marriage like you’d build a house. Using two different sets of plans only causes confusion. So come up with a new plan that belongs to you both.

Don’t think marriage will make you happy, because it won’t. The biggest predictor of how happy you’ll be after you’re married is how happy you were before the wedding. No matter how you slice it, being happy is a do-it-yourself job.

The 3rd trap newlyweds need to avoid to make their marriage last? Believing your partner will change. They won’t, so make sure you can deal with their bad habits before you say, “I do.” If you try to change your sweetie, you’ll wind up in a power struggle, and that makes for an unhappy marriage.

If you think talking about the hard stuff will take the romance out of your marriage, get over it! Kids, money, moving. Whatever your sensitive issues are, get them out into the open. Talking that stuff through will make you feel loved and accepted, and feeling safe with someone makes them the most desirable person in the world.

And one last mistake newlyweds need to avoid? Shying away from a fight! Couples who claim they never fight are either fibbing or missing the chance to really build a strong relationship. The key is learning how to handle conflict - because that’s what makes couples successful in the long run. Couples don’t give up on their marriage because they fight. They give up because they stop trying to work through their differences.

Got a stinky cooler?

Had a few too many picnics this Summer that have left your cooler smelling a bit un-appetizing?

Try this- one intelligent thing you can do before this weekend's outing: empty your cooler, and fill the bottom with charcoal briquets. Close the cooler and leave overnight. The next morning, dump the briquets in the trash, and you'll find that the charcoal will have absorbed any leftover odors from your award-winning potato salad!

RED means STOP!

National Stop on Red Week is dedicated to educating Americans about the dangers of running red lights.
The success of this week depends on local efforts around the country. Following is a list of 10 activities you can coordinate to help promote National Stop on Red Week in your community:

Activities for National Stop on Red Week
1. Press conference. Hold a press conference to announce national and statewide statistics gathered from local law enforcement agencies and the National SRLR program.
2. Proclamations. Encourage the Governor and State legislators to declare SRLR week, and work with them to enact stiffer penalties.
3. Pledges. Motivate drivers to sign a pledge to stop running red lights. Deliver the pledges to the statehouse lawn during a press event.
4. Radio and TV promotions. Encourage radio and TV stations to promote National Red on Red week. Radio stations can do live broadcasts from high-crash intersections in town. Stations can give away promotional items in support of the week. TV stations can air public service announcements (PSAs).
5. Schools. Work with the local school system to ask all children to wear red during the week.
6. Police ride-alongs. Encourage journalists to ride along with police officers as they make traffic stops.
7. SRLR posters. Hang posters at schools, local businesses and other high-visibility areas.
8. Movie theater slides. Work with a local movie theater to include a SRLR slide in the pre-film slide presentation.
9. Paycheck reminders. Encourage local employers to develop paycheck reminders announcing the week and providing safe driving tips.
10. Billboards. Seek donated advertising space on billboards, buses, cabs and at gas stations.

Is your drink in a can or a shot glass?

New research shows adult binge drinkers are more likely to have a beer can in hand than a shot glass. But two studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show teens prefer the hard stuff. Experts suggest access may play a major role in the choices of the two age groups.

Anger at work helps men, hurts women

Getting angry at work may win men admiration, but for women it risks causing them to be viewed as out of control and incompetent, according to a new study. Yale University post-doctoral scholar Victoria Brescoli conducted tests in which men and women watched videos of a job interview and rated the applicant's status.

In one, the scripts were the same except when the candidate described feeling either angry or sad about losing an account because a colleague arrived late at a meeting. The participants gave the most status to the man who said he was angry, the second most to the woman who said she was sad, slightly less on the man who said he was sad, and the least by a sizable margin on the woman who said she was angry.

In another, the script was similar, but the applicant also described his or her current occupation as a trainee or senior executive. The angry female CEO was rated significantly less competent than the others, including the trainees, and the angry women were viewed as significantly more out of control.

4 Co-workers you should befriend

We have to work with a lot of different personalities and seems like the bad co-workers get all the press. But there are 4 types that you should get to know. They may actually help your career.

Ladies, take a deep breath

The breathing disorder called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hits women harder than men and in a different way, a new study finds. COPD actually consists of two different lung diseases -- chronic bronchitis, which damages the lining of the airways, and emphysema, which damages the alveoli, the tiny sacs through which oxygen enters the blood. A study of more than 1,000 COPD patients, 38.8 percent of them women, found that bronchitis is more common in women and emphysema more common in men. In addition, women in the study reported more breathlessness, a higher incidence of depression and a lower quality of life than the men.

Hey, bright eyes...it's Vision Month!

Many children's vision problems can be treated successfully if they're detected early, says Prevent Blindness America. The vision health organization has declared August Children's Eye Health and Safety Month as part of its effort to educate the public about the importance of quality eye care for children. About two out of three children in the United States don't receive critical eye services before the age of 6, and that increases their risk of suffering vision loss, according to Prevent Blindness America. If children don't receive a certified vision screening or eye exam, serious vision roblems may go undetected. Children should have their vision checked at infancy, 6 months, 3 years, and 5 years, with follow-ups as needed.

Ways to be healthier without even trying

Glamour Magazine has some easy ways to be healthier without trying to hard.


Laugh out loud: It'll make your body pump endorphins -- chemicals that boost energy and alleviate depression. Stress hormones will drop too.

Drink plain old water: You'll feel good if you stay hydrated.

Wash your hands: Up to 80% of all colds, flus and other common illnesses are spread through touching, and only 16% of people do a good enough job washing.

Eat anything in the produce aisle: All of them are good -- there's no such thing as a bad-for-you vegetable.

Floss: It's one of the best ways to ward off gum disease and keep your smile intact forever.
Deep breathing: It cuts stress instantly. Try six slow breaths per minute to lower blood pressure.

Hang out with friends: People crave relationships; friends let you vent; and a study found that people with a strong network of friends outlived those without by 22%.

Massage: It feels great and research shows a good rub may improve circulation and release feel-good chemicals like serotonin.

Decent posture: Sit or stand up straight and you'll magically look slimmer.

National Night Out

National Night Out Against Crime is coming up Tuesday night. There are events from Deerfield Beach to Hollywood to your own neighborhood.

Remember to turn on your porch light.

New movies opening today

There is so much to choose from: Matt Dillon in "The Bourne Ultimatum," J-lo and Marc Anthony in "El Cantante" and for the kids "Underdog" and "Bratz."

Get details on all movies opening this weekend.

Bargain Hunting for Dummies

Hot off the presses for the inner bargain shopper in all of us: writer Kelli B. Grant reports in Smartmoney.com that "some days of the week may yield better bargains than others."

Looking for an airfare bargain? Search the Internet on Wednesdays. Airline sales kick off over the weekend, so by Tuesday competitors announce their own deals. But wait -- there's more! By Tuesday and/or Wednesday, the original airline to initiate the sale usually bats back with an even better deal.

If you're on the lookout for a car, mark Mondays as the best bet. The reason: the weekend rush is over and by Monday the salespeople are desperate to make a deal.

Shop on Thursday evenings for clothes when retailers have set up for the weekend sales promotion. You'll beat the Saturday-Sunday crowd for the bargains.

Military kids at risk

Confirmed incidents of child abuse and neglect among Army families increase significantly when a parent is deployed to a combat zone, according to a new study.

The study, funded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, shows that the overall rate of child abuse and neglect was more than 40 percent higher while a soldier-parent was deployed for a combat tour than when he or she was at home. The study confirms that supportive services are needed for families of deployed soldiers and that those services need to be provided in a way that encourages parents who are having difficulties to take advantage of them.

Banning Baby Bottles?

First they moved against smoking, and then trans fats. Now, New York City health officials are taking on the bottle -- as in a baby's bottle. On Tuesday they announced a new campaign to promote breastfeeding instead of using formula.

Baby bottles beware. New york City hospitals don't want you around. Instead, they want infants to eat at Mom's instead. Doctors also said breastfeeding helps mom's health too and burns 500 calories a day. Then there's the cost of formula. Supporters say this may be the best dining deal around. About a quarter of women who deliver at city hospitals choose to breastfeed. New York City officials want that number to triple by 2010

Keeping Kids Safe

You might think it would be impossible to forget that you have left your car with a child in the back seat, exposed to temperatures which could hit 140 degrees, but the founder of Kids and Cars, an organization which tracks child deaths in cars, said it happens more than most people realize.

One device that could possibly save a life: The Child Minder system replaces the car seat's harness clip with a "smart clip" synchronized to a key ring alarm. The unit is activated when the child is buckled in. As long as the child remains in the seat, an alarm will sound if the adult walks more than 10 feet from the automobile.

The Pet Club

Pamper your pet at The Pet Club

It's a modern facility with a state of the art air conditioning system providing healthy fresh air for your pets at all times. They have a boutique full of pet jewelry, furniture, leathers, collars, and a dog bakery for special treats.

You enjoy the spa...but what bout your pet?

Their spa offers a VIP lounge, aromatherapy, hot oil/cond. treatment, nail polishing, and doggy/kitty day care.

Don't forget the new Disney movie "Underdog" opens Friday.

This place has the approval of my kids, Geddy and Aircheck.

Lead paint spurs toy recall:

Another recall of products from China. Fisher-Price is recalling nearly one million plastic preschool toys because of excessive levels of lead in the paint. The recalls covers 83 types of toys including the Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters. For more details, click here.

When thunder's around put all metal down!

If you're ever caught in a thunderstorm, get rid of your iPod immediately.

If you'd happen to be struck by lightening, it could make your injuries worse! When lightening jumps from a nearby object to a person, it often flashes over the skin, leaving most of the body undamaged. But metal can concentrate the electrical energy, and cause severe contact burns, whether it's a cell phone, an iPod, beeper, laptop computer, jewelry, coins in your pocket- even an underwire bra!

Never leave a child in the car again

You might think it would be impossible to forget that you have left your car with a child in the back seat, exposed to temperatures which could hit 140 degrees, but the founder of Kids and Cars, an organization which tracks child deaths in cars, said it happens more then most people realize.

One device that could possibly save a life: The Child Minder system replaces the car seat's harness clip with a "smart clip" synchronized to a key ring alarm. The unit is activated when the child is buckled in. As long as the child remains in the seat, an alarm will sound if the adult walks more than 10 feet from the automobile.

Pet pleasers

You've heard me talk about my dog, Geddy and my cat, Aircheck for years now and I can attest to the fact that they can reduce my stress and put me in a good mood. Owning a pet comes with lots of responsiblitly but what you get in return in unmeasureable. Find out the benefits of pet ownership.

Do you have a work spouse?

Sometimes I call Jeff Martin my work husband.

With a work spouse, you know each other's favorite food; gripe about co-workers; confide about personal issues; and support each other during good and bad times. The main difference? There's no canoodling.

With a 9-to-5 marriage, a "couple" gets support without the hassle of a romantic entanglement. After all, with the amount of time we spend at work it's not unusual to become close--if not intimate--with our colleagues.The term office spouse has become so prevalent it made its way into a poll last year on attitudes in the American workplace. Of 750 respondents, 17% said yes, they had a workplace spouse, according to the Harris Interactive poll. Marital status didn't seem to matter. Singles and married folks reported to having an office spouse at the same rate. Plus, research shows having close ties at work is good for employees and the employer.

Hey Jeff, you have something in your teeth...while you're up can you grab me a coffee and pick up my dry cleaning tomorrow morning and ......

Making Lust Last

Rekindling Passion for the Husband You Still Love
By Keith Ablow, M.D.

Here are 5 ways to put the X back in married sex!

Luckily, with so much passion locked inside us, there's a lot to unlock. It's just a matter of finding the right key. For most couples, being married makes being passionate together more difficult, not less. Admitting this is happening is the first step toward making it stop. You can change your sex life this week. Pick one item from this five-point plan and try it out. Have your husband pick another for next week. You'll be on your way to married sex that works.

1. Assume you don't know everything about each other sexually.
2. Offer up an emotionally safe way to explore each other's fantasies.
3. To make sex less intimidating, turn it into a game. Ask your partner to tell you three of his fantasies, and you get to choose one to act out. Then it's his turn -- you tell him three of yours, and he selects one.
4. Provide examples. In order for your spouse to believe that you want to hear his real fantasies, you'll have to prove it by giving a believable example.
5. Give real-life routine a rest. Monotony (not to be confused with monogamy) is the enemy of passion. In order to see your mate as the prince, and for him to see you as the princess, it helps to set the stage and put on the right costume. Tell him to meet you at a restaurant for a date. Dress to impress each other.

For the complete details of each suggestion just click here.

A day for your Wellies

I was just talking about wearing my Wellies yesterday during that torrential downpour. Then I got flooded with e-mails asking "What's a Wellie?" Well, remember the Morton Salt girl? She wore Wellies. They're rubber boots or also known as galoshes. Here's a site with more on Wellies.

Why whoopie?

Researchers have come up with some answers to the burning question: Why do people have sex?
The researchers asked college students taking psychology classes to rank the reasons on a one-to-five scale based on their experiences.

The students agreed on their top reasons for having sex:
They were attracted to the person, they wanted to experience physical pleasure and -- quote -- "it feels good."

For older adults:
Twenty of the top 25 reasons given for having sex were the same for men and women.
Expressing love and showing affection were in the top 10 for both men and women.
The study appears in the August edition of Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Alert for parents!

During these 'dog days of summer' air conditioning units are working overtime trying to keep homes and offices cooled down. But many of those air conditioning units are becoming the target of kids wanting to drain the freon gas from inside and inhale it, sometimes with deadly results. Even the first time that they would do it they could die. The long term if they continue to do this is memory problems, they can suffer permanent liver damage, kidney damage, lung damage and brain damage. For about $30 you can buy a locking mechanism to prevent access to the Freon in your air conditioner.

Help for osteoarthritis

Preliminary research in rats suggests that an existing drug could help older women stop osteoarthritis in its tracks. The drug, known as calcitonin, is currently used to treat osteoporosis. According to tests in female rats, it shows promise as a possible treatment for osteoarthritis in older, postmenopausal women. However, testing in humans won't end for another three years, and there's no guarantee that the drug will work as well in humans as in rats. The study is published in the August issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Protect your home when you're away

A home that appears occupied deters burglars:

Use timers to operate lights; Leave blinds and curtains in everyday positions; Turn your telephone ringer down, so no one outside can hear repeated rings; Review your answering machine. Make sure it does not imply you are away; Ask a friend to pick up newspapers and deliveries, or have deliveries stopped; Arrange for continuing yard care; and if your car is parked in the driveway, have a friend move it occasionally. Remove objects that might allow access to your home, such as ladders stored outside or trashcans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence; To prevent intruders from hiding behind shrubs, trim bushes to expose branch structure; Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best places;

Eat, drink and help kids

Sample yummy food and drink from South Florida's best chefs tomorrow night at The Ritz Carlton on Key Biscayne. They are hosting the Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation and all proceeds from the culinary event will benefit the fight against childhood hunger.



For tickets, call 1-877-26 taste or visit their website.

Over 40 vision!

Well, I knew the time would finally come. I have "reader" glasses everywhere...by my computer, in my purse, in the car and at work. That small print has become too darn small for me to read. So today I'm wearing my first pair of progressive glasses. I feel like I'm looking out of a fish bowl. But, everyone I've talked to says I have to give it some time and learn how to use them. Here are some tips I ran across that are supposed to help:

A progressive lens is not designed to have clear vision throughout the entire lens. In learning to wear a progressive lens you must remember that like an hourglass the corridor is narrower in the middle than the top and bottom. To use the middle portion you need to use your nose like a pointer and turn your head slightly to look directly at your object to get the full advantage of the intermediate area. If you glance to either side you will run into the blended area and your vision will blur slightly. To adjust the power between the distance and the near you must move you head slowly up or down which changes the power according to how far away the object or reading material is from you. Generally your near distance is measured at about 16 to 18 inches or elbow distance. The intermediate distance is between you elbow and about 6 inches beyond your finger tips. The far vision is anything beyond the ends of your finger tips. When wearing a progressive for the first time you must tilt you chin toward your chest and look over the intermediate blend to see the floor since it is beyond your fingertips.
(Your Eyeglasses and You)

Stop Negotiating With Your Kids!

What’s the secret to stress-free parenting?

Stop negotiating with your kids! I’ve got the facts on rules you can follow that’ll help keep your whole family happy. These tips come from CNN.

The first rule to live by: I don’t work past 8pm. The goal is to get your kids in bed on time every night. That way, you’ll get some quiet time before you hit the sack. But don’t bother telling your kids that they need their sleep. Instead, make the rule about you. In other words, tell them something like “the labor department just made a new rule – no mom jobs can be done after 8pm!” But you’ll gladly play games, give baths, and read bedtime stories before then. Pretty soon your kids will be rushing to spend mom time with you before you go “off the clock.” Why it works: The rule is for you, and you’d only have yourself to blame if it’s not enforced.

Another rule for stress free parenting: I can’t understand you when you speak like that. The goal is to get your kids to stop whining, screaming, and generally being rude. So, the next time your kids get out of hand, tell them you can’t understand unless they calm down, and talk to you instead. Whispering your request helps because they’ll have to strain to hear what you’re saying. And bringing down the volume a notch makes sure your kids don’t get the drama they’re looking for.

And the last rule to live by: We don’t argue about money. The goal is to stop your kids from begging and pleading for stuff. It’s a rule that has to be enforced at all times. But the basic deal is this: You can tell your child “yes” or “no” about any requested purchase, but you won’t discuss the reasons. If your kid protests when you say “no,” calmly tell them you’re not going to argue about money. Studies show this technique shifts the focus from the whined-for-treat to a financial policy. In other words, you’re almost changing the topic on them and no longer debating why they should or shouldn’t have gum or some plastic toy they want. Instead you’re invoking a reasonable-sounding family value.

A new modesty Movement is taking teen girls by storm

Check out these new style tips for girls:
Skirts should be no more than 4 fingers above the knee.
No tank tops without a sweater over them.
Pants should fit well, but not be too tight. You should be able to pull them away from the leg.

Is that a dress code for a private school? Nope – they’re fashion guidelines from a website called Pure Fashion – which encourages girls to show the public it’s possible to be “cute, stylish, and modest”. It’s the tip of the iceberg in the new modesty movement that’s taking teen girls by storm.
There are other sites out there, like Modest Apparel USA, Modesty By Design, and Dress Modestly – that all cater to this growing movement of “girls gone mild.” There are modest fashion magazines too, like “Eliza”, aimed at 17 to 34 year olds. Even Macy’s is carrying a line of clothes called “Shade” designed by two women who wanted trendy but not revealing clothes.

So why is the modesty movement happening now? Because there’s a dawning of awareness that maybe not everyone being lewd and showing skin is happy with their choices. It’s not empowering. In fact, these girls feel it makes them less powerful because people don’t take sleazy girls seriously. It’s a reaction to the media, where bad girls are glorified. It’s also a reaction to parents who want to be “cool” and their kid’s “best friend” – so they let them wear whatever they want, stay out late, and are overly permissive. It’s basically the parents who are, or have, pushed the boundaries and now their kids are slamming on the brakes. Which just may prove that rebelling against Mom and Dad is one trend that’ll never go out of style.

Back-to-School Tax free Shopping

The Florida Tax Relief Act
Looking for a way to save a little money on back to school purchases? Starting at 12:01 a.m. on August 4th until midnight on August 13, 2007, the Florida Department of Revenue is offering a nine day, tax free shopping spree on selected articles of clothing, wallets, backpacks and much more.

Included in the list will be:

Clothing and related items with a sales price of $50 or less,
Books with a sales price of $50 or less,
School supplies with a sales price of $10 or less.

The tax savings is only for individual exempt items priced $50 or less. This means that a jacket priced at $55 is not tax exempt, but the purchase of 2 jackets priced at $45 each, are tax exempt. Selected school supplies priced $10 or less are tax exempt. There are no restrictions on the number of eligible items you purchase at one time or during the tax exemption period.