There is one word that could actually prevent you from getting that job...

You came THIS close to getting that job – but the other guy or girl got it instead... 

Could it have been something you said? Yes. Cosmopolitan magazine asked professional recruiters how they decide when they’ve narrowed it down to 2 candidates – and one answer stood out as the most common: I, me, mine.

Hiring managers seemed to prefer the person who was able to limit the use of those words, especially “I” during the interview. In most cases, they are looking for a team player who cares about the company rather than someone who is full of themselves or more concerned with what they want or need.

What do soda and strokes have in common? Unfortunately, a lot. The disturbing link...

More bad news for soda lovers...

...now your go-to beverage has been linked with an increased risk of stroke. Researchers at Harvard University and Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute say both sugar-sweetened and diet soda put us at a higher risk for stroke – as much as 16% higher for daily drinkers. 

Here’s what Dr. Adam Bernstein, lead author of the study, had to say about soda. "Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has increased dramatically in the United States over the past three decades and it's affecting our health. These findings reiterate the importance of encouraging individuals to substitute alternate beverages for soda."

What’s the worst seat on an airplane?

You might enjoy the view – but according to the American College of Chest Physicians, the window seat is the WORST seat on an airplane – even in first class... 

They say people who sit in window seats while flying on an airplane are more likely to sit longer and move less than people in other seats, putting them at a higher risk for developing potentially dangerous blood clots in the legs. 

Experts say those of us on long-haul flights sitting in economy class are at the highest risk of developing deep venous thromboses - so much so that it’s even been dubbed "economy class syndrome."

One of your appliances could be a huge fire risk...

According to the CPSC, clothing dryers are responsible for about 7,000 fires each year...

...and in most cases, lint is to blame. Here are a few things we really need to do to prevent potential dryer disaster:

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.

• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.

• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.

• Do not dry clothing or fabric on which there is anything flammable, such as alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers or dry-cleaning solvents. Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.

If you notice that it's taking longer for your clothes to dry, it's likely that lint is clogging the venting system. Also, the white vinyl venting a lot of us have no longer meets national fire code standards in the U.S. If that’s what you’ve got, consider replacing that with aluminum ducts.

If you’ve got a TV in the kitchen – get it out of there!

We love food and we love TV – just don’t mix the two... 

When our brains are focused on a TV or computer screen – there’s a good chance we’ll consume a LOT more calories without even knowing it. Matthew Clark, psychologist and obesity researcher at the Mayo clinic has a few suggestions on how to break the TV eating habit:

• For one week, keep a journal of all screen time and what you eat during it. You may be shocked at what you hadn’t noticed the week before.

• Put some post-it notes on your TV and computer reminding you to eat somewhere else.

• If you’ve got a TV in the kitchen – get it out of there. You’ll be doing the whole family a favor.

The shows you watch can make a difference too. Dr. Clark points out that if a TV show excites you and inspires conversation with family or friends, you’re less likely to eat during it. But if a show leaves you feeling flat or bored, hide the snacks! That will make you much more prone to emotional eating.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? That tough interview question is old school. The new gotcha questions...

Just about every interview has a dreaded question or two... 

Because “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” and “What is your biggest weakness?” are pretty much expected now, hiring managers are digging a little deeper to put us on the spot. Here are some of the new popular “gotcha” questions:

• Which superhero would you be?

• If you could trade places with anyone in the world – who would it be?

• If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

• What animal would you compare yourself with?

• In the news story about your life – what would the headline be?

Katharine Hansen, career expert and author of “A Foot in the Door,” says these types of gimicky interview questions are usually designed to see if you can think on your feet, how you’d respond when put on the spot, or in some cases, they are intended to gauge your creativity or political correctness. So how do you respond? She says don’t let it rattle you. Simply smile, take a deep breathe, and take a moment to compose your response. A little bit of silence is better than blurting out something even sillier than the question. If all else fails, ask if you can come back to that question later. You may lose a few thinking-on-your-feet points, but you'll gain points for handling a difficult situation with poise.

If it’s too hot outside for your daily walk, there’s something even better you can do inside...

The next time it’s too hot or rainy for your daily walk – grab your hula hoop...  

You don’t need a lot of space to do it and it’s a super-effective workout, especially with some good music on. Just 30 minutes of hula hooping can burn about 210 calories and will strengthen core muscles and improve balance. 

We might associate hula hooping with the 1950s – but hula hoops have been spinning around for thousands of years. In ancient Greece and Egypt, they were made from grapevines or stiff grasses and were used by kids and adults alike for exercise.

The hula hoop has come a long way since then. Adult fitness models are now wrapped in friction tape, allowing you to spend more time hooping and less time picking it up.

The dog days of summer ain’t what they used to be. How and when they changed...

Right about now, in late July, the Dog Star Sirius is in conjunction with the sun for most of us in the northern hemisphere...

That means we’re smack in the middle of the dog days of summer. In ancient times, those who watched the Dog Star rise and set with the sun believed it was responsible for the added heat of mid-summer.

Originally, the dog days were counted from 20 days before the Sirius-Sun conjunction to 20 days after. But due to the precession of the equinoxes, a gradual drifting of the constellations over time, the dog days have shifted a bit and we have settled on July 3rd to August 11th.

Blondes may be the butt of many jokes – but research shows they’ll also be laughing all the way to the bank...

Do blondes really have more fun? Who knows? 

But new research says they DO make more money. The U.S. survey looked at 13,000 women over the span of 27 years – and some of the results are as follows:

• Blondes equaled other women on test scores and education.

• Blondes have the highest percentage of college degrees and master diplomas.

• Blondes’ wages were 7% higher.

• Blondes’ spouses also earned 6% more than other husbands.

Brunettes scored the highest in the self-esteem department and reported feeling the most respected at work, while redheads had the most drive and logged the most on-the-job hours.

Quick – call the plastic surgeon! You’ve got a double chin on Facebook!

New research is suggesting that the facelift industry is seeing a real boost thanks to Facebook, Facetime and Skype...


The most popular procedure is chin augmentation. Those are up 71% in just the past year. So what’s the connection with social networking? According to Manhattan Plastic Surgeon Dr. Adam Schaffner, patients come into the office and say they didn’t realize how they really looked until they saw themselves on Facebook or their iPhone.

Dr. Robert K. Sigal, a Washing D.C. area surgeon has even created the "Facetime Facelift" which reduces heaviness, fullness and sagging of the face and neck emphasized by the angle at which the phone is held.

There are lots of uses for good old baking soda. Let’s review...

Baking soda has been around since the 1800s – and we’re still finding new uses for it... 

Here are a few MORE reasons to stock up on it:

• Squeaky clean hair: Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your usual shampoo bottle to help remove buildup from hair products. If you spend a lot of time in the pool, a baking soda and water rinse will remove the chlorine. You can even use baking soda as a dry shampoo on oily hair. Just comb through and blow dry. 

• Hands: Remove fish, onion, or garlic odor from hands by washing them with a solution of baking soda and a bit of liquid soap. 

• Elbows: Rub a baking-soda paste onto your elbows to smooth away rough skin.

• Feet: Massage rough calluses and heels with a baking soda paste or soak tired feet in warm water with a few tablespoons baking soda.

• Soothe minor mishaps: For sunburn pain, poison ivy or bee stings, apply baking soda with a saturated washcloth to the area.

• Relaxing baths: Baking soda added to the bathwater has a softening effect on the skin. Add 1/2 cup to a full bath.

• Organic Deodorant: Apply cornstarch to your underarms with a powder puff first and then apply the baking soda.

• Nail care: Clean fingernails and toenails by scrubbing them with a nailbrush dipped in baking soda. This also softens cuticles.

• Facial Care: Baking soda is an excellent exfoliant and leaves your skin nice and smoothe. It’s also great for razor burn relief.

Cool as a cucumber...

What we eat and drink can have a big effect on how cool we are – or at least how cool we feel...  

Brian Clement, author of “Living Foods for Optimum Health,” has a list of food ingredients to help us chill on a hot summer day:

• Mint: Toss some in your salad or stick a sprig in your drink. It affects the nerves in the mouth and throat, creating a cooling sensation.

• Coconut water: It’s even more hydrating than water.

• Green tea: Drinking it hot cools you down by triggering the pores in your skin to open.

• Ginger: The compounds in ginger help regulate your internal temperature, making you feel more comfortable. It can cool you down in the summer and warm you up in the winter. And its effects can last for a few hours.

Ironically, vacations make some people sick! Why that happens...

The general idea of a vacation is to feel great and have a good time – but for some people, it makes them sick...  

Bryan E. Robinson, author of “Chained to the Desk,” says “leisure sickness” is a real phenomenon and it’s not that uncommon. Most at risk are overly worked or busy people who come down with cold and flulike symptoms as soon as they try for some down-time. He says workaholics thrive on working – it energizes them. When the working stops, underlying stress bubbles up and they start to experience a kind of withdrawal. 

If you or someone in your family is prone to leisure sickness, don’t skip the vacation – you really do need it. Dr. Robinson suggests you work on relaxing BEFORE you go. Take some short breaks each day prior to leaving. Once you’re they’re – don’t stray too far from your normal routine. You can even stay connected to real life a little by designating check-in times at the beginning and end of each day.

For those who get them, migraines can be much worse in the summer. Here's what to do...

Summertime can be a big problem for those who have to deal with migraine headaches...  

The increase in temperature and humidity can add to frequency and intensity. There are a few things you can do to help keep those summer migraines in check:

• Skip the hot dogs. They contain additives that can trigger the headaches. Opt for turkey or vegetarian hot dogs that are nitrite-free instead.

• Have sunglasses and a visor handy at all times. Bright light is a huge trigger of migraines. Put the shades on before you even step outside.

• Drink lots of water. Dehydration is double trouble for someone prone to migraines. Water is the best defense because summer drinks such as lemonade and iced tea can make matters worth with high sugar and caffeine levels.

• Sunscreen, insect repellent and body sprays are also filled with migraine triggers. Make sure to choose products that are fragrance free with fewer chemicals.

Have you brushed your lymph system today? The benefits of dry-skin brushing...

We brush our teeth and our hair – and new research suggests we should ALL be brushing our skin too!

Dry brushing the skin has been around for a long time. The Russians and Scandinavians have been doing it for centuries. Robert Morgan, Health Education Director at Creative Health Institute in Michigan, says nothing cleanses the lymph system like dry-skin brushing. He points out that the skin is the largest organ on the body and works hard, around the clock, eliminating toxins for us. Brushing the skin exfoliates, increases circulation and clears the way for the pores.

Robert suggests using a long-handled natural bristle brush for your skin. Start lightly and always brush towards your heart. Start at your feet and work your way up. The whole dry-brushing routine should take about 5 minutes and be repeated daily.