If you don’t have a date for Valentine’s Day – there’s an app for that

For those of you who would rather not spend Valentine’s Day alone – you could download a potential date on your smartphone...

There’s an app for just about everything – and Valentines are no exception:

• Crowded Room is a new app that recommends people you might like to meet according to your interests, tastes and hangouts. You might even recognize them.

• OkCupid is one of the most popular dating apps out there and it’s free. It also works a bit more in real time and takes your location into consideration. He or she might be right behind you.

• If you’d rather PLAY cupid – there’s an app for that too. It’s called Play Cupid and it helps you match up and alert friends who you think belong together.

If you’re already spoken for – there are tons of available apps that let you do everything from browsing and buying last minute gifts, to creating custom cards or writing romantic love letters or poems for your Valentine.

Google this!

If you need to do some quick math – Google it...

I’ve got some other good Google tricks, coming up…Payoff:We Google millions of things every day, from restaurants and videos to movies and maps. If you’d like to take your Googling skills to the next level, there are some pretty cool things that search bar can do:

• Got a math problem? Just type it into the search bar. Your answer will appear. It even works for more complicated math like square roots or algebra.

• What time is it in Paris? Just ask Google. It will display the current time just about anywhere in the world.

• If you’re wondering if that flight is arriving on time – just Google the airline and flight number. Any pertinent information will magically appear.

• If you’re tracking a package – Google the FedEx, UPS or Postal tracking number to find it’s status.

• The next time you need to know how many seconds are in 2 and a half hours, just Google it. You can convert just about anything you can measure and it works for currency too.

• If you need information on a product – type in the numbers under the barcode, including the far left and right digits. Product information and links will appear.

Starbucks has a dirty secret?

If you’ve ever been to a Starbucks, you could probably figure out what a Grande Café Mocha would be...

But according to some die-hard Starbucks customers and baristas – there are some secret drinks, not on the menu, the average customer could be missing out on:

Cinnamon Roll Frappuccino: It’s a Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with a shot of Cinnamon Dolce syrup.

Cookies & Cream Frappucino: This is a White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino blended with java chips and a dash of peppermint syrup.

The Dirty Hippy: That’s just a Dirty Chai Tea Latte – but with soy milk instead of regular.

Personally, I like the Black Eye or Red Eye at Starbucks.  A Red Eye is a regular coffee with a shot of espresso, a Black Eye has 2.

Take a Massage!

Here’s one more thing for your to-do list – a massage...

If you need an excuse to book a massage – I’ve got several. A recent study found some hard, physical evidence that massage can reduce inflammation and heal damaged muscles more effectively than medication. But the benefits of massage go a lot deeper than that:

• Massage can significantly reduce anxiety and depression.

• Just 15 minutes will boost immunity and brainpower.

• Massage can improve sleep issues by tapping into our delta waves – those are the brain waves connected to deep sleep.

• Regular rubdowns can help manage migraines.

• Massage can help to lessen some symptoms of PMS, such as cramping and mood swings.

• Massage increases blood flow and can even improve complexion and hair.

There are a few simple things you can do at work to lose weight...

Most of the snacks we find lying around the work place are the last things we should be munching on if we’re watching our weight...

There are a few things you can do in the office to minimize some weight-gain pitfalls:

• Take you phone calls standing up. All that sitting puts your metabolism to sleep. By designating a few tasks in your routine that you could perform standing or pacing, you could burn an extra 280 per week.

• Never eat at your desk. When it is time to eat, just eat. Multi-tasking while eating will cause you to eat more and leave you less satisfied once you get back to work.

• Move the candy. If you’re the type who has a stash of snacks in your drawer, or bowl of candy on your desk – relocate that. Some of us need a sweet break in the routine at some point in the day – but opening your drawer hardly counts as a workout. Make it a more productive break by forcing yourself to get up to get at it. Consider keeping it in your car or find a hiding spot as far from your workspace as possible.

If you don’t think dogs need to brush their teeth – think again...

If you’ve got a dog – be sure to have his teeth checked...

59 out of every 100 dogs have dental disease. According to Veterinarian Jean Joo, it’s a big problem for dogs because the bacteria responsible can enter the bloodstream and infect the heart, kidneys and other organs. Here’s what to look for: If your dog’s teeth are uniformly discoloured, that’s probably normal staining. If your dog has a few discoloured teeth – it needs to be checked by the vet.

We’re supposed to be brushing our dogs’ teeth every other day. Daily brushing is ideal – but don’t ever use human toothpaste. Dry food is much better for dental health than wet food – and tooth-friendly toys can help protect them a bit too.

The breeds most prone to dental problems are: toy poodles, Yorshire terriers, Maltese, Pomeranians, Shetland sheepdogs, Bulldogs, pugs and boxers.

If you ever use a kitchen spoon to take or give medicine – don’t...

Medicine and kitchen utensils don’t mix...

Dosing medicine is serious stuff – and some of us are way too casual about it. Millions of Americans are hurt each year by medication mistakes that could have been avoided. Two of the most common errors involve kitchen utensils:

• Using a kitchen spoon to measure medications. People do it all the time and wind up taking either too much or too little. Stick to the dosing cup or syringe provided.

• Splitting medication with a knife. It’s a bad idea. Assuming you’ve got the okay from your doctor to split the pill – always use a pill splitter. Uneven cuts mean uneven doses.

Which fruit contains the most pesticides?

If you like apples – you’d better enjoy washing them too...

According to a report from the Environmental Working Group, conventionally grown apples are contaminated with more pesticides than any other fruit. If you can buy organically grown apples, it may be worth the extra money to save you some elbow grease. To really effectively clean a regular off-the-shelf-apple, you’ll need to scrub it gently with some white vinegar. Peeling it is an option too – but then you’ll be tossing most of the valuable nutrients and fiber.

Online dating may now be the norm – but does it work long term?

If you’re hoping for happily ever after – don’t count on finding that online...

It’s now more main stream and a great resource for singles – but a new study reports online dating can actually undermine your chances of long term relationship success. That’s because online daters often seek out characteristics in a profile that are very different than what might make them click in real life. The authors of the study say that the abundance of online profiles tends to make daters too picky and judgemental – and triggers a shopping mentality.

Experts say beware of over-the-top promises some online dating sites use to lure you in. Phrases like “soul-mate” and “destiny” may sound promising – but it can also set you up for unrealistic hopes and dating disappointment.

Most of us use WAY too much laundry detergent...

If you’re like most people, you need a flashlight or your fingers to find the fill-line on that laundry detergent cap...

Guessing is always an option – but according to Brian Sansoni, spokesman for the American Cleaning Institute – the average person uses TWICE the recommended amount per load. That’s not only a waste of detergent and money – but it can mess up your washing machine, extend the rinse cycle, or leave soapy residue in your clothes.

Until now, manufacturers have not been much help. But those hard-to-read caps with vague fill-lines could soon be a thing of the past. More brands are now coming out with pre-measured alternatives in capsules, packets, pods and pumps. Arm & Hammer is introducing a new spring line of caps for their detergent – with an all-new thick vertical, visible dosing line.

You walk into the next room and you forget what you went in there for. I'll tell you why that happens...

The next time you forget what you were just about to do – blame it on the door you just walked through...

It's a mental phenomenon known as the location-updating effect. In a study from Notre Dame, 28 volunteers were split into two groups. Both groups were asked to place objects in a room. The first group had to walk into another room and recall where they had placed the objects. The second group had to walk into a different area without passing through a door to do there recall. The group that had to pass through a door struggled significantly more with their recall than the other group.

When we passed through a door, our brains register that our location and situation has changed. That new location data is enough to push some other information out if it hasn't had time to really take hold. There is a solution to this. Have a notepad in each room of your home. Jot down any tasks or ideas as they come to you. If you forget what you were doing by the time you get to the next room just head back to your notepad if you can remember where you put it.

If you’re trying to lose weight – and you like red wine – you’re in luck!

Alcohol is generally considered a no-no if you’re dieting...

...but red wine could be the exception to that rule. According to Dr. Patrick Schrauwen, red wine can actually help to increase your weight loss by revving up your metabolism a bit. In a recent study, overweight adults who indulged in 1 or 2 glasses of red wine daily burned fat more efficiently and lost more weight. Their overall health improved too. The same group enjoyed lower blood pressure and improved overall health.

Chances are, some of your cosmetics contain pearlescence...

Check the ingredients on your lipstick and nail polish...

If it’s the shimmery type – it probably contains pearl essence, or pearlescence. That sounds downright luxurious – but it’s really another word for fish scales. Pearl essence is a big business byproduct for some fisheries – especially shiny herring. Those pulverized gleaming scales wind up in lots of cosmetics, hair products, paint, ceramics and jewelry – basically anything that shimmers like a fish.

If you’re in between jobs, you should be the one conducting some interviews...

Before you apply for that job, or switch careers, try interviewing a few people first...

According to Richard Nelson Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute,” you can really streamline your job search by conducting what he calls “informational interviews.” It’s not only a great way to start networking in some new areas – it may help eliminate some bad options or get some inside scoop.

If you've got friends, family or coworkers in a specific position, those would be some natural first candidates to interview. If not, do a little research. Gather some contacts in companies you’d like to work for or from LinkedIn. Nelson says most people are very willing to answer a few questions. Send them a request by email or give them a call. Explain you’ll only need a few minutes of their time. Come up with a few questions such as best and worst aspects of the job – and what a typical work week might involve. Ask them if they can recommend another industry candidate to interview and don’t forget to follow up the next day with a formal thank-you.

Is that just a headache – or could it be a migraine?

Most people who suffer from migraines have no doubt when one hits...

But migraines do come in different forms for different people. Experts say fewer than half of all migraine sufferers have been accurately diagnosed. Here are some signs it could be more than just a run-of-the-mill headache:

• It lasts more than 4 hours.

• You would describe the pain as “throbbing.”

• The headache worsens with abrupt movements or bending over.

• You’re sensitive to light or sound, or feel nauseous.

It’s worth discussing with your doctor if your headaches fall into 1 or more these categories. Migraines require specific treatment and can often be reduced or eliminated with some minor adjustments to your routine.