Wake Up Water

If you’d like to make waking up in the morning a little easier – do this at night...

If you – or your kids - have to drag yourself out of bed on some mornings, there’s something that can help – a glass of water. The trick is to have it handy and set it up when you go to bed at night. As soon as you wake up, if you drink that water, the boost of hydration will get your body functioning faster from the inside out – and wash a lot of that grogginess away.

Time Your Talks

The next time you talk out a problem with your spouse – set the timer first!

The next time you have a serious talk – set the timer for 45 minutes. John Gottman, author of “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work,” says communication is the key to a good marriage – but set some limits. Like a therapy session, when we know we have a specific window of time to address something, we’re more likely to stick to the issue at hand. After 45 minutes it’s time to move on – or at least take a break.

Sour Milk

The next time you buy milk – reach for one in the back...

When you reach for that jug of milk in the store – keep reaching – all the way to the back. Even if the dates are the same, the milk in the back is the better bet. Just 4 minutes of exposure to daylight can give milk that metallic taste and decrease the levels of vitamins A and D – and fluorescent lighting can zap it too in about 2 hours. And if you think the cardboard containers are light proof – they’re not – researchers say some light penetrates those too.

Rocking Soles

Walk into any shoe store – and you’ll see a lot of “toning” style soles...

They might feel odd at first, but those curved soles that let you rock back and forth a bit claim to intensify your exercise, burn more calories and tone muscles better. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin put the toners to the test. They say there was no real difference between those rocking style soles and any other decent pair of running shoes.

Some people just prefer how they feel – and if that makes you more inclined to get out there and get active – then rock on.

Friendly Font

If you get headaches after a lot of reading on the computer, there’s a font for that...

If you spend a lot of time on the computer – chances are fatigue sets in later in the day. If you get headaches, or feel some eye strain, there are a few things you can do. First, switch your default font to Veranda – it’s specifically designed for easy reading with more space between the letters. Arial is another good font for that. Another trick is to change the angle of your monitor halfway through the day. A slight change to line of sight and neck position can really take some of the strain away.

Facebook Value

Is Facebook good or bad for your self-esteem?

If you’re having a bad day and could use a shot of self-esteem – change your Facebook status! Researchers at Cornell University say it can provide a real ego boost. One group of students was asked to browse their own page for a few minutes – while another group of students had a mirror to look at. Both groups were given a questionnaire to measure their self-esteem after the session. The results – the students who had been looking at Facebook had higher marks – and those who had made a change to their profile scored the highest.

Most people tend to put our more positive images of themselves on Facebook. Even if it's more polished than real life - that flattering picture or witty comment can can serve as a healthy ego boost.

The Heat Is On

Who likes it warmer – the guys or the girls?

Who is more likely to turn up the thermostat in your house – the guys or the girls? In most cases – it’s the girls. A recent study found most women liked the temperature a bit warmer than the men. According to John Bargh, psychology researcher at Yale, temperature perception has something to do with social preferences. Women have a stronger reaction to phrases like “a warm smile” or “a cold stare.” He says a lot of women are more sensitive to physical temperatures because they inherently link that to social temperature.

Ultimate Snack

The next time you reach for a snack – make it count!

There’s a healthy snack that can leave you feeling more satisfied and full than that candy bar or bag of chips. It’s a slightly under-ripe banana. Bananas have lots of resistant starch, or RS – that’s a healthy carb that boosts your metabolism and keeps hunger away for longer. A medium size, slightly under-ripe banana has more of that element than almost any other food.

Donate Some Clothes

Those old clothes you don’t wear could be worth a LOT of money – if you donate them...

If you’re considering a garage sale to get rid of some old clothes – you might make a lot more money by donating them. The IRS lets you deduct fair market value for clothing you donate to a charity like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. According to William R. Lewis, author of “Money for Your Used Clothing,” some of those clothes are worth more than you might think.

A silk tie in good condition is worth $8 to $10, a woman’s suit - $40! Most children’s clothes fall into the $5 to $10 range – girl’s items are worth about $2 more than boys.

Brighter Smile

If you’d like naturally brighter teeth, try this...

As we age, our teeth darken – and a lot of the stuff we eat and drink don’t help. Prevention Magazine has a list of some foods that can actually help brighten our teeth:

 

• Crunchy foods like apples celery and carrots are great natural scrubbers and help prevent stains from adhering to the surface of your teeth in between brushing.

• An apple a day keeps coffee away – from your teeth. Apples work great on caffeine stains – and if you eat one every day you’ll notice a difference.

• Strawberries are natural teeth whiteners. Mash some up with a bit of baking soda and brush thoroughly with that. It’s especially good on coffee and red wine stains.

Shed Some Skin

If you’d like to shed some winter skin...

Our skin can really dry out over the winter. There’s less humidity in the air – and those hot winter showers just make matters worse. You can help shed that top scaly layer by using a body scrub on the rough spots BEFORE you get wet. And if your heels are dry and cracked – slather them with Vaseline at bed time and slip on some socks. They’ll be MUCH softer in the morning.

More Coffee Please

Go ahead – have that second cup of coffee...

If it seems like the better it is – the less you should have – here’s some really good news for coffee lovers. Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, professor of medicine at Harvard, says we should be drinking MORE of it – maybe even several cups. He says coffee can help protect us from liver disease, type II diabetes, heart disease, liver cancer, gout, and Parkinson’s disease. If more than a cup of caffeine is a bit much for you – go with the decaf – it’s got some good stuff in there too.

Sex Goddess

If you’d like to find your inner sex goddess, picture her...

Daily routines can take a toll on our sensuality. If commuting, cooking, doing the laundry or bills doesn’t feel particularly sexy – try channeling your inner sex goddess. Sex therapist Dr. Marianne Brandon says it might sound funny but it works. First – think of a woman who strikes you as super feminine and sexy – she uses Angelia Jolie as an example. Next, as you go about your day, ask yourself, “How would Angelina drive this car, prepare this meal or load this dishwasher.” Have some fun with that, you might see that next chore in a whole new light.

Imagining yourself as your favorite sex symbol can help tap into your inner sensuality – and it will be less of a leap to get back there when the time is right.

Freshest Bread

Did you know you can tell what day a loaf of bread was baked by the color of the tag?

The next time you’re in the bread aisle of the grocery store – check the color of those little plastic tags or twist ties on the end of the loaves. The color of the tag indicates what day the bread was baked. Here’s the code for most bread manufacturers:

• Blue – Monday

• Green – Tuesday

• Red – Thursday

• White – Friday

• Yellow – Saturday

The color code makes it easy for the restocker to spot the loaves that have to go. Don’t worry – you won’t have to write it down. The colors are in alphabetical order starting with B on Monday.

Weight Loss Math

If you’re trying to lose some weight before bathing suit season – do the math...

When it comes to losing weight – a little math can take some of the pressure off. Let’s say you’d like to lose 10 pounds before summer gets here. Break that down into weeks – and that’s less than a pound a week. Dietitian Molly Morgan says that a lot of people choose a number and visualize losing it all at once. Breaking that number down into weeks – or months for long term weight loss – can make that goal feel much more realistic.