Looking For Love



If you’re looking for love – online – change your profile... (click play to listen)

When is the last time you changed your online dating profile? Barrie Dolnick, author of “Simple Spells for Love,” says it should be freshened up every 3 months. She says we change with the seasons and should be expressing that in our profiles. Start with the picture – it should reflect how you CURRENTLY look and feel. The personal message should change every three months too – and should include something you’re looking for or would like to be doing now – not last summer.

Last Impression

That first impression is important in an interview – but so is the last one...

If one of your resolutions for 2012 is to get hired, it’s important to make a good LAST impression. A lot of interviews get more relaxed and casual towards the end – but don’t let your guard down. The end of an interview is usually a great time to make some mental notes on what to mention in your follow up letter or second interview. Watch for a personal touch, a pleasant surprise, or something positive outside of the job description.

When it’s over - use the same firm handshake, warm smile and eye contact you did when you arrived – and throw in a sincere compliment – people like people who like them.

Tax Time





Are you ready for some taxes?

Those W2’s should be arriving any minute – and the sooner you file – the sooner you’ll see your refund. Now is the time to get the other stuff in order. You’ll need the social security numbers for every dependent in your household. If you’re self-employed – round up all the business-related receipts and any related utility bills. And if you gave to a qualified charity – now is the time to request a receipt for larger donations – or find the cancelled check or credit card statement for anything under $250.

Source: Kay Bell, Bankrate, Inc.

Viral Vocab

Now that 2010 is over – the list of words to be banished in 2011 is out. Here's what NOT to say...

With the end of each year comes that list of words and phrases we’re supposed to STOP using. Lake Superior University has 14 we’re sick of hearing:

1. Viral

2. Epic

3. Fail

4. Wow factor

5. A-ha moment

6. Back story

7. BFF

8. Man up

9. Refudiate

10. Mama Grizzlies

11. The American people

12. I’m just sayin’

13. Facebook or Google (used as verbs)

14. Live life to the fullest

5 Simple Steps

Losing weight can be a challenge – try these 5 simple steps...

There are countless diets and methods out there to help us lose weight – but Prevention magazine says anyone can do it with these 5 scientifically proven steps:

• Snack on almonds – they satisfy cravings for salt and help battle abdominal fat.

• Fill up on fiber – fruits, veggies, beans, whole grain bread, cereal and pasta.

• There’s proof in protein – it keeps you full for longer. Have some with every meal.

• Skip the fake sweetener – it hinders satisfaction. Go with raw sugar or honey.

• Drop one high-cal item a day – skip or substitute that large latte or bagel and cream cheese.

The Perfect Handshake

Have you perfected your handshake? Firm is good – but there’s more to it than that...

Before you enter the shaking scenario – be sure your hand is prepped. You might need some moisturizer – and let’s hope it’s not too cold – or too sweaty. As you extend your hand – it’s important to maintain eye contact with the shake-ee. Here’s the tricky part - make sure your palm is not facing downward – that indicates you think there’s something wrong with the other person. If it’s tilted upwards – that shake suggests you’re a victim. Finally - your palm should press against the other person’s palm completely – leaving a gap in there conveys a lack of trust or closeness.

Source: Taibi Kahler, author of “The Mastery of Management”

New Year Detox

If you ate or drank too much over the past few weeks – stock up on apples!

If you’d like to detox the end of 2010 out of your body – start with some apples. Apples are powerful antioxidants with pectin which cleanses the digestive system – and eating one or two a day can really help. Have more salad and fruit juice for at least a week – and throw in a little extra vitamin C and you’re on your way.

If you opt for one of the natural detox programs sold over-the-counter – they can help. They usually take a week or two – and you’ll need to have access to a bathroom – so they’re not a great option for someone who’s on the road a lot.

Source: Chris Kilham, The Medicine Hunter

Driving Through a Blowout

A tire blowout can be terrifying – and most of us do the WRONG thing...

If your tire blows – hit the gas! According to former race car driver and safety expert Mac Demere – it’s the last thing our instincts want to do. Most people tend to hit the brakes – but at a high speed – any braking or turning can result in a crash. Accelerating for a couple of seconds puts you back in control of the car. Demere explains that the drag force of the blown tire will prevent the car from going any faster.

The next maneuver is to keep the car going as straight as possible. Wait until you can coast down to about 30 mph before attempting to brake and GENTLY turn toward the shoulder of the road – which should be the same side as the blown tire if possible.

For more auto wisdom and driving safety tips, visit http://macdemere.net/

Doctor's Orders





If you’re prone to cheating on your doctor’s orders – be honest!

If you’re going to have that martini or pastrami sandwich AGAINST your doctor’s orders – fess up. According to Dr. Julian Seifter, author of “After the Diagnosis,” there's probably some wiggle room. He says giving up favorite foods or habits can compromise your quality of life – and some patients get fixated on what they CAN’T have. It’s important to find the right doctor you feel comfortable being completely honest with. In most cases – the right doctor can suggest substitutes or a happy medium to keep your regiment on track – while letting you maintain some control over the things you would miss.

3D Danger

If your kid got a 3D game for Christmas – it could hurt their eyes...

3D games are all the rage – but for kids under 6 – it could be a problem for their eyes. The major gaming manufacturers have posted some warnings about 3D games on their websites and packaging – noting that 3D content delivers different images to the left and right eyes – and could cause eye strain or nausea with extended use. Since kids under the age of 6 are still considered to be in the developmental stage of vision – Nintendo suggests using the games in 2D mode for them – and that all users take gaming breaks every 30 minutes.

Source: Dr. Michael Ehrenhaus, New York Cornea Consultants

Eat Before Drinking!

If you’re going to be drinking on New Year’s Eve – eat first!

Everyone knows not to drink on an empty stomach – but what you put in there can make a difference. Eating a full meal BEFORE you drink is best – and go ahead and keep munching as the night goes on. Drinking milk first has been prescribed for generations – and it is a good idea. That can help slow the absorption of alchol a bit - but it's NO substitute for food. Taking vitamins B and C is good advice too – alcohol will deplete nutrients from your body – and getting some into your system can help you replenish.

For each drink you order – order a glass of water. Alternating with water will slow you down – keep you hydrated – and can help you start the New Year a little happier on Saturday morning.

Finger Theory



The length of your fingers might say something about your health....

Take a look at your hand. Is your index finger longer than your ring finger? If it is – that’s good news! Some British researchers took a look at finger length and how it relates to our health. They came to the conclusion that men with longer index fingers may be at LESS risk for prostate cancer. If your index finger is the same length or shorter than your ring finger – don’t panic. So far the researchers are just labeling this as a theory. If more evidence supports the theory – then we have a new risk factor to help determine who should be screened more frequently.

Source: British Journal of Cancer

Memory Trick

If you’ve got something you REALLY need to remember – here's a trick...

The next time you need to commit something to memory – type it somewhere – in a hard to read font. Princeton University tested two groups of students – giving them each 90 seconds to memorize a list of printed details. One group’s list was typed in the difficult to read Bodoni front – the other group – an easy to read Arial font. The Bodonis recalled 14% MORE than the Arials. The added challenge of an unusual font forces us to slow down and gives our brains a chance to absorb a little more.

Baking Soda Facial

Baking soda is good for all sorts of things – including your face!

Forget about those fancy facial cleansers and exfoliants – we should be using good old baking soda instead! A simple paste made from baking soda and water has just the right texture to gently get rid of dead skin. The sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the skin’s pH, which helps reduce excess oil and prevent breakouts. Baking soda also has anti-inflammatory power that can really help with redness, irritated or chapped skin.

Source: Hema Sundaram, author of “Face Value”

Workplace Sabotage

Is someone at work trying to make you look bad?

If you feel like you’re being sabotaged at work – there is a way to handle it. Vivian Scott, author of “Conflict Resolution at Work for Dummies,” suggests befriending that person if you can. Your goal is to get the opportunity to learn more about the saboteur – and any possible motives. Scott explains, in most cases, that person is not out to get you per se – but more concerned about making themselves look better.

It’s also a good idea to check with someone you trust – to be sure you’re not just being paranoid. If you do determine that someone is up to no good – don’t let them influence your own professionalism. It’s best if you can work out a plan about achieving your goals together, and start keeping careful records of any underhanded tactics.