Hey twinkle toes!

In life as in dance:Grace glides on blistered feet.
~ Alice Abrams

All week we are giving away tickets to see the Miami City Ballet's "The Nutcracker"...which got me thinking about my early years as a ballerina. I was 5 years old my instructor was Mrs. Good and I loved this part of my life. The pink tights, dancing around and the big recital. We performed "Little Miss Muffet" I remember I got to be the spider that sat down beside her. I felt like a star!!

But I was not aware that Jeff Martin donned a tutu as well. I have the picture to prove it.

He's the one on the far right with the blonde wig and mustache. Nice.

Did you ever take ballet lessons and did you enjoy it?

How do you shop?

What is your shopping style? I did some holiday shopping last weekend and my poor husband became a coat tree... Howard ended up holding my purse, bags and coat while I went searching for the next gift on my list. It's a good thing he's very understanding and patient.


Immediate shopper - this kind of shopper looks at something, likes it, finds the price and buys it. This shopper does not think why and how that product is better to others, nor cares to compare any prices. I like it, so I buy it. Shopkeepers love this shopper.
Thoughtful Shopper - This shopper looks at a product, and thinks about it. Why should i buy it? Should I buy it? How will I use it? Will it be useful? Am I making a mistake buying it? Or should I buy it? What about the cost? This shopper will think about everything and then take a considered decision.
Confused Shopper - This shopper is confused. Does not know why he/she entered the shop at all? Why and what to buy? What will be the use? What about this? How about that? The shopper is confused about the whole shopping and is a big headache for the stores.
I Will Buy It Later - This buyer is a unique specimen. He/she will look at all the products. Discuss about few thoroughly and compare the prices. Will decide about what is to be bought and then suddenly walk out saying - I will buy it later.

The holiday bulge

Don't become a holiday blimp: with parties, work, and family events, calories can add up faster than snowflakes in a blizzard at this time of year.

Here's how to splurge without ending up shaped like frostyElizabeth M. Ward
HOLIDAY MEALS
* Be a discriminating diner. Scan the table for one or two foods you must have. Instead of gorging, take small portions--the first few bites are the best anyway. Fill the remaining space on your plate with lean meats, plain vegetables, and grains.
* Keep your mind off food. Instead of going for seconds, volunteer to do the dishes or clear the table.
* Bag it. Take all those spare cookies and treats your hosts ply you with to work the following day so you don't have unneeded temptation around your house.
PARTIES
* Never arrive hungry. Regular meals and snacks throughout the day will blunt your appetite and allow you to resist overdoing it on the festive treats.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
* Protein load. Foods like fish, seafood, chicken, and lean beef keep you fuller longer, so you eat less sugary junk.
* When you're done eating, avoid more mindless munching by parking yourself far from candy dishes and cookie platters.
EVERY DAY
* Don't deny yourself. If you're lusting after sugar cookies or eggnog, indulge. Just keep the portions as small as possible, so you limit the damage.
* Monitor yourself. Record everything you eat and how much you exercise. Studies show keeping tabs on excess pounds makes it easier to lose them.

By Elizabeth M. Ward, M.S., R.D.

Songs to make you skinny

This is a 23 pound turkey! This is Jeff Martin!

Jeff Martin just lost 23 pounds...that's amazing! Especially during the holiday season. He did it with Quick Weight Loss but I wonder if a little music might help.

Can a song help you drop the pounds?

I was a little apprehensive but then I listened to "Skinny Jeans" and a song called "The Incredible Shrinking Woman."

The songs are snappy and made me feel like dancing which could burn a few calories. This is really funny...take a listen.

Candy Cane Parade pics

We had sooo much fun Saturday night at the Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade. Here are a few pictures from our night. I'll have more to come so you can see Jeff Martin's peppermint tights.

Don't get scammed

Most people think the holiday shopping season is about the big crowds and big bargains. But there's one more seasonal hallmark that doesn't always get its fair share of publicity - big holiday crimes.

I was recently scammed out of 30 dollars while on my honeymoon. But during the holidays when people really need money they are more likely to fall for a scam. My grandma used to say a fool and her money is soon parted. Don't be fooled...if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.



Here are a few scam warnings.

Goofy gift ideas

Short of gift ideas for that person who really does have everything?

Web site Stupid.com, which claims finding a truly stupid gift is an art form, on Tuesday unveiled its second annual list of the top 10 "stupidest" holiday gifts for 2008.
"2008 might have been a bad year for the economy, but it was a great year for stupidity," said Stupid.com's founder Gary Apple. "Weird products seemed to come out of the woodwork this year. There was almost too much stupidity to choose from!"


1. Screaming Chicken, The World's Most Annoying Toy:
This rubber chicken doesn't squeak or squawk. It screams.
2. Wealth Redistribution 2008 Holiday Ornament:
This tree ornament announces that the ornament that used to be there has been removed and given to someone who needs it more. The Redistribution Holiday Ornament will let everyone know you're spreading the wealth whether you want to or not.
3. Mini Guitar Hero:
This miniature version of that mega-hit game is barely 6-inches long but you can still rock out to songs by Queen, Cheap Trick, Nirvana, and The Police.
4. Potty Putter:
Why waste time on the toilet, when you can use it to get ready for the fairway? Potty Putter contains everything you need for an exciting round of golf without leaving your seat including a putting green for around the toilet, mini putter, flag stick and two golf balls.
5. Wasabi Flavored Gumballs:
These potent little green confections offer an intense explosion of wasabi. Strangely, the gum is actually delicious.
6. Men's Underwear Repair Kit:
In this troubled economy, don't throw away your old underwear but repair it with the Men's Underwear Repair Kit. This handy, inexpensive kit provides everything you need to get your unsightly undershorts back into presentable shape.
7. Obama "Yes We Can" Opener:
Every election spawns some interesting products, but this has to be one of the stupidest. To Obama fans, the "Yes, We Can" opener, seizing on his campaign refrain, could be a treasure.
8. "How To Tie A Tie" Tie:
Still struggle with your tie? This stylish tie has simple knot-tying instructions printed right on the front. Just follow the six step-by-step diagrams and you'll look as dashing as George Clooney in seconds.
9. 2009 Dog Poop Calendar:
Each month features a spectacular landscape or breathtaking tableau, but somewhere in every shot there's a pile of dog poop. Distasteful? You bet it is, but the contrast between the beautiful photography and dog poop is remarkable.
10. Pole Dancer Alarm Clock:
When the alarm goes off, dance music plays and disco lights flash. At the same time, a buxom blonde dancer gyrates around a pole under the spinning disco ball.

Don't miss the parade!

Don't miss the annual City Of Hollywood Candy Cane Parade and your chance to see Jeff Martin in his peppermint tights!

Holiday Office Party!

Remember if you're lucky enough to have a holiday office party, make sure you don't dance on anything other than the floor!

We're having a party...smaller yes...but at least were having one. What about you?

If you plan to go to your office holiday party here's a few things to keep in mind.

Beauty products

What's in your bathroom drawer, medicine cabinet and shower? shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, eye-makeup remover, mascara, face lotion, lip balm, blush, deodorant, bronzer, eyeliner, nail polish, hair brushes, flat iron, curling iron, crimping iron...the list goes on and on.

A survey by The Environmental Working Group found that the average woman uses 12 personal care products per day. It just show how high-maintenance the modern gal has become and the value we place on physical beauty and appearance.

Check out the 7 things men will never get about beauty.

Beat the Holiday Stress

‘Tis the season to be jolly... not stressed out!

If the shopping, wrapping gifts, gaining weight, party planning, decorating, cooking, in-laws, going to the office holiday party, working on the holiday, the traffic, finding a parking space at the mall, cleaning the house, travel, and the list go on and on start to stress you.... Don’t panic, here are some tips that could help you have a very jolly season!

And if you need more help, check here.

Make a gift

Nothing captures the spirit of the holidays like a unique gift that's been made with care and love. Here are some great homemade gift ideas.

While price comparison shopping, shopping sales and pruning your gift list are viable ways to save some money on gifts, there are additional creative ways to save. There's nothing wrong with spending money if you have it, but it's silly to overspend and charge yourself into a deep hole. Regardless what you do or how much you spend, wasted money is still wasted money.
Practical gifts are the way to go this year.

Here's a few gift ideas that won't break the bank.

Meals: Have a potluck. It can still be a formal meal, but don't be afraid to ask for help. When someone asks if they can bring anything, take them up on that offer. You can skip alcoholic beverages this year and opt for mocktails instead. Cut your work and food budget in half.

Coupons: Make and print coupons that offer your time such as a dessert a month, lawn mowing, babysitting, etc.

New rules: Can request to create a new family rule that only the children receive gifts. This can cut back on gift exchanges for all of the adults. If that's not possible, try one group gift per family instead of individual gifts for every member in each family.

Work related gifts: Some of us know the pressure of the manager's decision to have the team ordepartment exchange gifts. It's often awkward. Encourage the team to do a dollar store swap, donate to charity with a food drive or care packages for our soldiers or a potluck. It doesn't have to cost much per person.

Topics to avoid

Thanksgiving is a special ocassion that gather all (or almost all) the family members at the dinning table.

Here are some topics that you should avoid and tips to make this festivity something to remember.

Super side dishes

Make your Thanksgiving feast memorable with spectacular side dishes. The hardest part about these recipes will be figuring out which ones to make.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Reuse plastic bags

For Pet Lovers:
1. Instead of buying special bags to clean up behind your dog, use used plastic grocery bags.
2. Use them to scoop the cat’s litter box.
3. Donate bags to your local animal shelter.
4. Donate bags to your local dog park – there is usually a dispenser there for those who forgot to bring their own.
For the Crafty:
5. Cut the bags into loops and knot them together into plastic “yarn.” This can be used to make braided rugs, weave baskets, and crochet bigger, stronger bags that will last. Some people even use plastic yarn to crochet sun hats. Knitting works too. It’s washable, but air dry only.
6. Stuff Halloween dummies with plastic bags instead of straw, using straw just around the cuffs.
7. Protect your surfaces with plastic bags when doing messy crafts.
8. Fuse bags into plastic fabric to sew with. Instructions for this are popping up all over the internet.
Around the House:
9. Line paint trays with plastic bags before pouring the paint in, and cleanup becomes a breeze.
10. Make a draft blocker: Sew a tube of recycled fabric and stuff it with the plastic bags, then sew up the ends. Placed at the bottoms of drafty doors it will cut down on the heating bills, saving even more energy.
11. Use plastic bags as packing material instead of Styrofoam packing peanuts. It reuses bags and prevents the production of more Styrofoam.
12. Rather than using rope or plastic zip ties, loop together as many bags as needed to make plastic rope.
In the Kitchen:
13. Wrap homemade bread in a clean plastic grocery bag. It will stay fresher but still be able to breathe.
14. Use them to pack lunches.
15. Use a plastic bag as a cutting board when cutting up particularly messy items, like meat, or to collect vegetable shavings.
16. Use a clean bag as a non-stick surface for rolling out dough.
Out of the House:
17. Keep a small stash of bags in the truck of the car – they are great for all kinds of emergencies.
18. Use plastic grocery bags as camping trip garbage bags.
19. Pick up bags you see at the park or in the street and use them to collect any garbage and recyclable litter.
20. Keep a few in the diaper bag – these can be very handy when confronted with a very messy diaper, or when the mess has spread to baby’s clothes, to protect the rest of the bag’s contents.
21. Donate them to your child’s daycare center.
22. When traveling, wrap a plastic bag around your toiletry bag to prevent any spills from spreading.
23. Tie a couple over your feet and keep your shoes clean when you have to walk through a muddy area.
24. Donate them to the local library – many use them for sending home big stacks of books with patrons who did not bring their own bag.
25. Donate them to your local thrift store.
Reduce the Number of Plastic Bags You Get:
26. Bring the plastic bags you already have to the store to reuse them.
27. Bring your own cloth or crocheted plastic bags to the store.
28. Go through the self-checkout so you can add more items to each bag than checkers normally do.
29. When buying just one or two items, just throw them in your purse or briefcase, or carry them to the car bag-less.
And Lastly:
30. Support companies that use recycled plastic, from handmade African crafts to designer chairs to composite decking.

Things to recycle

Garbage. Americans produce more and more of it every year, when we need to be producing less. Even the most waste-conscious among us can feel overwhelmed by the amount of household waste that goes beyond what municipal recyclers and compost bins can handle. That’s why our editors spent the summer of 2007 investigating the state of waste management in our country, putting this list togther for you, explaining how we can get serious about the three R’s – reducing, reusing, and recycling — and divert more waste away from landfills.

1. Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances, www.goodwill.org, or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them. 800/YES-1-CAN, www.recycle-steel.org.
2. Batteries: Rechargeables and single-use: Battery Solutions, 734/467-9110, www.batteryrecycling.com.
3. Cardboard boxes: Contact local nonprofits and women’s shelters to see if they can use them. Or, offer up used cardboard boxes at your local Freecycle.org listserv or on Craigslist.org for others who may need them for moving or storage. If your workplace collects at least 100 boxes or more each month, UsedCardboardBoxes.com accepts them for resale.4. CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: Send scratched music or computer CDs, DVDs, and PlayStation or Nintendo video game disks to AuralTech for refinishing, and they’ll work like new: 888/454-3223, www.auraltech.com.
5. Clothes: Wearable clothes can go to your local Goodwill outlet or shelter. Donate wearable women’s business clothing to Dress for Success, which gives them to low-income women as they search for jobs, 212/532-1922, www.dressforsuccess.org. Offer unwearable clothes and towels to local animal boarding and shelter facilities, which often use them as pet bedding. Consider holding a clothes swap at your office, school, faith congregation or community center. Swap clothes with friends and colleagues, and save money on a new fall wardrobe and back-to-school clothes.
6. Compact fluorescent bulbs: Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling: www.ikea.com.
7. Compostable bio-plastics: You probably won’t be able to compost these in your home compost bin or pile. Find a municipal composter to take them to at www.findacomposter.com.
8. Computers and electronics: Find the most responsible recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.
9. Exercise videos: Swap them with others at www.videofitness.com.
10. Eyeglasses: Your local Lion’s Club or eye care chain may collect these. Lenses are reground and given to people in need.
11. Foam packing: Your local pack-and-ship store will likely accept foam peanuts for reuse. Or, call the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site: 800/828-2214. For places to drop off foam blocks for recycling, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 410/451-8340, www.epspackaging.org/info.html
12. Ink/toner cartridges: Recycleplace.com pays $1/each.
13. Miscellaneous: Get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them. Offer them up on your local Freecycle.org or Craigslist.org listserv, or try giving them away at Throwplace.com or giving or selling them at iReuse.com. iReuse.com will also help you find a recycler, if possible, when your items have reached the end of their useful lifecycle.
14. Oil: Find Used Motor Oil Hotlines for each state: 202/682-8000, www.recycleoil.org.
15. Phones: Donate cell phones: Collective Good will refurbish your phone and sell it to someone in a developing country: 770/856-9021, www.collectivegood.com. Call to Protect reprograms cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims: www.donateaphone.com. Recycle single-line phones: Reclamere, 814/386-2927, www.reclamere.com.
16. Sports equipment: Resell or trade it at your local Play It Again Sports outlet, 800/476-9249, www.playitagainsports.com.
17. “Technotrash”: Project KOPEG offers an e-waste recycling program that can help you raise funds for your organization. Use Project KOPEG to recycle iPods, MP3 players, cell phones and chargers, digital cameras, PDAs, palm pilots, and more. Also, easily recycle all of your CDs, jewel cases, DVDs, audio and video tapes, pagers, rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs, and ink/toner cartridges with GreenDisk’s Technotrash program. For $30, GreenDisk will send you a cardboard box in which you can ship them up to 70 pounds of any of the above. Your fee covers the box as well as shipping and recycling fees. 800/305-GREENDISK, www.greendisk.com.
18. Tennis shoes: Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring. www.nikereuseashoe.com. One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. www.oneworldrunning.com.
19. Toothbrushes and razors: Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor from Recycline, and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber. Recycline products are made from used Stonyfield Farms’ yogurt cups. 888/354-7296, www.recycline.com.
20. Tyvek envelopes: Quantities less than 25: Send to Shirley Cimburke, Tyvek Recycling Specialist, 5401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Spot 197, Room 231, Richmond, VA 23234. Quantities larger than 25, call 866/33-TYVEK.
21. Stuff you just can’t recycle: When practical, send such items back to the manufacturer and tell them they need to manufacture products that close the waste loop responsibly.

Happy viewing

Unhappy folks watch more TV, happy ones read:

CTV.ca News Staff

Unhappy people spend more time watching television than their content counterparts, who are more likely to spend their spare time reading and socializing, a new study says.
In a study of nearly 30,000 adults, sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as unhappy watch 20 per cent more television than those who consider themselves to be very happy.
The research also showed that self-described happy people are more socially active, attend church more often, are more likely to vote and more frequently read newspapers.
The study included data from previous research that measured how people use their time, as well as information from surveys that asked respondents how happy they feel and how much time they spend doing a number of different tasks.
The data also suggested that watching television may boost viewers' happiness in the moment but does little to improve their feelings over the long term.
"TV doesn't really seem to satisfy people over the long haul the way that social involvement or reading a newspaper does," study co-author John P. Robinson, a University of Maryland sociologist, said in a statement. "It's more passive and may provide escape - especially when the news is as depressing as the economy itself. The data suggest to us that the TV habit may offer short-run pleasure at the expense of long-term malaise."
The researchers published their findings in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research.
The data from time-use surveys suggests that if the ongoing worldwide financial crisis continues to worsen and people lose their jobs, television viewing may increase.
The findings showed a correlation between having more available free time and watching more television.
And it seems unhappy people have far more free time on their hands.
Fifty-one per cent said they were more likely to have unwanted extra time to fill, compared to only 19 per cent of happy people.
The researchers said that their data showed that television viewing proved an easy way for unhappy folks to fill their spare time.
Television doesn't require that a viewer dress up, leave the house, plan ahead, spend extra money or seek company, the researchers said.
When those factors are combined with the instant gratification that TV offers, it is easy to understand why television is so attractive, the researchers said.
"Addictive activities produce momentary pleasure but long-term misery and regret," study co-author Steven Martin, also a University of Maryland sociologist, said in a statement. "People most vulnerable to addiction tend to be socially or personally disadvantaged. For this kind of person, TV can become a kind of opiate in a way. It's habitual, and tuning in can be an easy way of tuning out."

Bullying: kids, adults, online!!!

Everybody knows what a "Bully" is, but did you know that the "Bullying" behavior has gone beyond the limits of the schools?

Nowadays you can see this kind of situations in the workplace and even on the web.

If you want to know more about it, you can check here:

Bullies on the schools: the old story that everybody knows.
Bullies on the workplace: the old story but in a grown up environment.
Bullies on the web: the new media could not be the exception.

I hope these links help you to solve the problem!... And remember the violence is not the answer.

Is gaming a problem?

Concern is spreading among parents and mental-health professionals that the exploding popularity of computer and video games has a deeper dark side than simple couch-potatohood.

How can parents know when a lot is too much? Media experts are quick to point out that computer and video games are not inherently bad for kids; indeed, most players find a balance, says David Walsh, founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family in Minneapolis: "They play their video games; they do their homework; they keep up with their responsibilities and have other interests. No problem."
But when the other areas of a child's life begin to suffer, parents may have cause to take corrective action.

See if you or your child has any of the symptoms of video game addiciton.

Veterans Day

On this Veteran Day, lets honor those who bravely served our country. Below you will find some activities that will be held in South Florida:

• Wilton Manors ceremony, 11 a.m. at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. Call 954-390-2130.
• Acupuncture clinic, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Collins Community Center, 3900 NE Third Ave., Oakland Park. Free treatment session for veterans. The clinic requests $20 donations for treatments to raise money for other veterans' clinics. Call 954-630-4500.
• Plantation ceremony, 9:30 a.m. at Veterans Park, 1776 Lauderdale West Drive. Participants will include Mayor Rae Carol Armstrong, a police honor guard, high school singers, entertainer Al Matos and other performers. Call 954-452-2510.
• Coral Springs ceremony, 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Park, 8601 Royal Palm Blvd. Includes speeches by veterans, 21-gun salute and placing wreaths. Call 954-345-2200.
• The American Soldier, 3-5 p.m. at Presidential Place, 3880 S. Circle Drive, Hollywood. Lecture by Korean War veteran John Hone. Call 954-894-0059.
• Hollywood ceremony, 11 a.m. at Hollywood Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 6301 Taft St. Call 954-989-1550.
• Salute to Veterans, 8 a.m. parade begins at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave., 10 a.m. service at Veterans Park, 7825 Southgate Blvd. Call 954-597-3620.
• Thomas P. Johnson American Legion Post 222 ceremony, 11 a.m. at Collins Park flagpole, 4001 NE Fifth Ave., Oakland Park. Call 954-776-5373.
• Coconut Creek ceremony, 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3500 Lyons Road. Activities include a rifle salute, Police Department Honor Guard, national anthem and presentation of the colors. Call 954-956-1580.
• Pembroke Pines ceremony, noon at Fletcher Park, 7900 Johnson St. Call 954-435-6525.
• The Moving Wall, will be at Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., near the Flagler Street entrance. There will be a Parade from Bayside to the Moving Wall at 2 p.m. The Closing ceremonies start at 5:30 p.m. No admission fee.

Also, it is important to show your children the importance of this day, here is a fun and educational Veteran's Day site for your children.

And finally, if you want to send a free printed postcard to a friend or relative that is part of the US military stationed overseas, you can do it here.