Halloween stores are popping up in malls and shopping centers. Why you might want to skip those...

Where did that Halloween store come from?

They start popping up about a month before the big night and will disappear just as mysteriously. According to Christina Norsig, author of “Pop-Up Retailer,” you’ll probably find what you need somewhere else, for less. She says the temporary nature of pop-up stores create a sense of excitement and urgency – and that could cost you. While pop-ups usually do have a wider selection of merchandise, it’s worth looking around. You still have time to find the same stuff elsewhere, or online, for a LOT less.

If you do get sucked in, buyer beware. Ask where or when you could return any faulty merchandise. Just keep in mind that the workers and managers in these pop-up stores are often temporary and may not know the company policies.  

If you’ve heard that taking multi-vitamins may prevent cancer – there’s more to that story...

Multivitamins have been getting a lot of credit lately...

A recent study suggests that taking multivitamins may help prevent cancer. Before you start swallowing them, there’s more to the story. The participants in the study were male physicians, age 50 or older – a very small sampling of a specific group. While there was an 8% reduction in cancer risk for the group, other larger clinical trials have had mixed results and have even suggested that multi-vitamins could increase other health risks. 

Experts still recommend that we get our nutrients from foods whenever possible. If you do need supplements, it’s a good idea to have your doctor help determine which ones you need, rather than defaulting to a multivitamin that could have some elements you don’t need.

Why do people post political signs in their yards?

You think you know your neighbors – until that political sign sprouts up in their front yard...

Todd Maske, author of “Not in My Front Yard!,” surveyed people in Franklin County, Ohio to determine why homeowners are really displaying that sign. Those with yard signs credited “showing pride” as their top motivation, at 93%. “Letting the neighbors know” received 75% favorability, which included keeping up with or opposing the Jones’ sign.

The yard sign survey also gives us some insight into your neighbor’s personality. The typical political personality profile included characteristics such as partisanship, ideological extremity and political activism.

The next time you toss out a prescription medicine bottle – destroy the evidence. How it could come back to haunt you...

Most of us just toss those empty medicine bottles in the trash without giving it much thought...

It might seem harmless but that could put you at risk. There is a lot of important information on that label and it really needs to be removed before you toss it out. Your name, prescription number, pharmacy and doctor are usually all listed on there. That could give some unauthorized access to any number of people, from family members and friends, to someone working in your house, to the person recycling or sifting through your garbage.

So what could they do with that sensitive information? For starters, there’s a chance they could use the pharmacy’s automated refill line, or find a drive through pharmacy that doesn’t require ID. Not only could they wind up with your meds – you could have a big problem with your next refill.

Could sugar be making you stupid?

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, it may be nibbling away at your brain power...

New research is suggesting that a sugary-sweet diet, high in fructose, could impair memory. To determine this, scientists used the good old rats-in-a-maze experiment. The four groups of rodents were given different levels of sugar in their diets and, sure enough, the high-sugar group came in dead-last in the rat-race. It seems the fructose interfered with their ability to think clearly, learn and remember.

Why are human feet getting bigger and bigger?

Our feet our getting bigger - by the decade...

According to the National Shoe Retailers Association, shoe sizes for both men and women have grown about a size and a half over the past 3 decades. For women, that average size 7 is now an 8 ½. Evolution experts say our food is to blame for the big foot syndrome. The more we eat, the bigger we get – and the bigger our feet need to be to accommodate the extra weight. 

Another factor is what we’re eating through childhood. Kids who eat high-density stuff during puberty, such as pizza and processed foods, are stimulating their growth hormones. Those kids are likely to end up with bigger grown-up waist sizes, hands and feet.  

Feeling stressed out? Have some eggs...

If you’re having a bad day, have some eggs...

Any eggs will do, as long as they’ve got the yolk. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that egg yolks can be very effective at treating stress by suppressing our production of cortisol. Eggs have vitamin B12 and folic acid and choline – all of which stimulate the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters.

Recent studies have even found that working some eggs into their diet can provide some relief for people suffering from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The next time you turn on a water faucet – turn on your brain too...

There is a simple trick we can do a few times a day to keep us balanced and level-headed...

According to Marsha Lucas, author of “Rewire Your Brain for Love,” we can rest and reset our brains in just 6 seconds, which improves attitude and focus. Here’s how it works:

• Identify something you do several times a day, such as turning on a water faucet.

• Each time you do that, it’s your cue to do your 6 second mental reset.

• Breathe in through your nose for 3 seconds.

• Say to yourself: “My mind is alert, my body is calm.”

• Exhale for 3 seconds and relax your face, jaw and neck.

That’s it, you’re done. Dr. Lucas says if we get in the habit of doing this several times every day, we’ll be less prone to anger and frustration and have a better sense of balance and calm.   

You can give your skin a healthy glow – just by eating something purple...

The next time you’re in the produce isle – pick something purple...

According to Dr. Ruthie Harper, founder of SkinShift, our skin is soaking up free radicals and environmental pollutants all the time. Luckily, there are some foods that can neutralize those elements and help restore a healthy glow. She says purple produce has that power. 

Purple potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, raspberries and blueberries are all rich in antioxidants that help improve circulation. Eat those regularly and you’ll improve the blood flow that delivers nutrients to the skin to form new cells, collagen and elastin.

Do you use the vibrate function on your phone? Why you might want to turn that off...

The vibrate function on your phone is handy if you’re in a quiet zone – but it’s also killing your battery...

Vibrate actually uses more battery than ringtones and other sounds. Save that function for when you really need it. 

If you’re a big texter – there’s another feature you can change to save some battery. Check your settings for the haptic feedback, or keyboard clicks and turn those off. You’ll be surprised at how much longer your battery will last on one charge. 

What you have for breakfast lunch can ruin the rest of your day. Sleep-inducing foods to avoid...

If you’re having fast food for lunch today, schedule a nap this afternoon...

Your body will have to work extra hard trying to digest all of that grease and fat which will leave you feeling fatigued. Here are some other foods that could knock you out:

• Frozen waffles: They’ve got a high glycemic index that cause your blood sugars to soar, then crash.

• Peanuts: They’ve got niacin which encourages your body to produce sleep-friendly serotonin.

• Fried fish: This is a double dose of drowsy with niacin and the hard-to-digest batter.

• Greens: If they’re boiled or steamed, the relaxing chlorophyll compounds in there get stronger.

• Turkey: It’s true. High amounts of tryptophan can leave you feeling super relaxed.

Looking for a new job when you’ve already got one can be tricky. How to apply, on the sly...

Interviewing for a new job when you’ve already got one can be risky business...

According to Priscilla Claman, president of Career Strategies, Inc., you still have some options if you can’t use your current boss as a reference. She says most potential employers understand that you may not want to put your current position in jeopardy before landing the new job. If possible, confide in a trusted colleague that can speak to your performance and ask to use them as a reference. Claman says many organizations are willing to make you an offer contingent on good references.

As soon as you get the good news, go straight to your boss. You’ll need to persuade him or her to give you a positive reference. Be prepared to give 2 weeks to a month notice, depending on your responsibilities. Both your current boss and your future boss will respect you more for it.

If you or someone you know is a teacher – have I got some deals for you...

Hey teachers – if you need an excuse to go shopping, here are several...

A lot of stores out there offer some significant discounts for teachers. Just show your school ID and enjoy these perks:

• 15% off at the Limited

• 15% off at Ann Taylor Loft

• 15% off at J. Crew

• 15 – 20% at Barnes and Nobel

• 50% off the normal subscription cost on home delivery of The New York Times

Teachers can save on computers too. Dell gives teachers 2 to 4% off retail price and Apple offers a lot of discounts for educators, like a free iPod touch with the purchase of a computer.

For more teacher discounts, check out TeachForAmerica.org.

If you’d like to stop smoking – I’ll tell you where to start...

If you smoke in your car – rolling down the windows isn’t good enough...

A new study has found that drivers who smoke in their cars are exposing their passengers, and themselves, to super high levels of even more dangerous second-hand smoke. You don’t even need to be smoking at the time for exposure. Those harmful pollution particles stick to the car’s interior and stay there. 

Smokers who used the air conditioning or rolled down their windows for ventilation were still at risk. That second-hand smoke will find its way into your car’s ventilation system and keep recycling it through the cabin. If you’d like to stop smoking, or at least cut down – your car is a good place to start. If you’re just not there yet, pull over and step out of the car before you smoke.

There is some bad news that will affect women more than men...

Bad news for women: Bad news takes a bigger toll on you...

A recent study found that most women have a much stronger response to bad news than men do. Researchers had men and women read some bad news about accidents and murders and then measured their responses and their hormone levels. The women took the news much harder. They paid more attention and remembered disturbing details for longer.

The lead author of the study explained that women are wired to be more primed for danger and more sensitive to their own survival and that of their children. They tend to take in the bad news and associate it with their own lives. Men were more likely to cut to the chase, shrug their shoulders and skip to the sports section.