Has your favorite book been banned? The do-NOT-read list...

Most parents want their kids to read more books. But The American Library Association takes issue with some of them. 

Here is a list of books they want OUT of some schools and libraries:

* Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" is chock full of “offensive language” and “unsuited to age group.”

* "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" contains sensitive material and encourages pornography, racism and religious irreverence, according to the ALA.

* The references to suicide, drugs, alcohol, smoking and sex were deemed unsuitable in Jay Asher's young adult novel, "Thirteen Reasons Why.”

* "Fifty Shades of Grey" made its debut on the list this year based on complaints citing offensive language and sexually explicit material.

* "The Kite Runner" was challenged in 2012 for 10th graders because it depicts rape and uses vulgar language.

* "And Tango Makes Three,” the 2005 children's book is based on the true story of a pair of male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who hatched an egg together was found “unsuited for age group” by the ALA.

* "Scary Stories" books have terrified children since the 1980s. They’re still too scary for some and remain challenged as too violent and unsuited for age group.

What are you wearing to that job interview? Why color matters...

Gray and black tent to be the go-to colors to wear on a job interview. So is it safe to add a little color? 

That depends. According to Stephanie Legatos, a career coach, colors counselor and owner of Be Well Partners, you need to be thoughtful on what you’re doing, who you’re meeting and what message you want to convey. 

Colors convey meaning and emotion. Red means luck in Chinese, and red and black are power colors. They may work for an executive or contract negotiators’ job. But if you’re interviewing for an administrative assistant job at a nonprofit, you may be better off in a less bold color such as blue or brown or something more neutral. A white shirt or blouse suggests clean, purity, honesty. People have subconscious reactions to the colors you’re wearing.

Legatos suggests wearing a scarf or a tie with some zest to bring in a little color. However, if you love purple, by all means, carry your purple purse. If that red jacket gives you a sense of courage and conviction, then it may be worthwhile to wear it. 

Stuck with a tattoo you don’t like anymore?

At least 10% of us have a tattoo somewhere - and 50% of them want it to go away. 

Tattoo removal has come a long way and laser treatment is now a pretty good option. The new tattoo removal technology hurts less and scars less and could remove your regret in about five treatments, depending on size, location, age and color. Black is the easiest color to treat, blue and green can be stubborn. 

It will take a lot longer to lose your tattoo than it took to get it. You’ll need to wait about six weeks between each treatment. It will also cost a lot more to remove your mistake, about $100 to $200 per treatment. They’ll also probably want payment in full on the day of each treatment.

Does living together before marriage help or hurt happily ever after?

If you’re tempted to shack up before tying the knot, it could have an impact on your marriage down the road. 

A recent study of couples who had been married for ten years or less looked at living arrangements before the big day. 19% of those who lived together before marriage had contemplated divorce. Couples who cohabitated after they were engaged but before the wedding seemed happier for it. Just 12% of them were tempted to split. The happiest husbands and wives were those who waited to share their space until AFTER the wedding. Only 10% of those couples were doubting their happily ever after. 

Is it too soon to pick your pumpkins?

Pumpkins are back. If you’re tempted to start picking them now, go ahead. 

An uncarved pumpkin will last about 8 to 12 weeks off the vine if it was healthy when picked, which is plenty of time to get you through Halloween. It’s actually a good idea to get that perfect pumpkin early, as they’ll be moved and manhandled a lot over the next few weeks.

To pick a pumpkin that will last, make sure it’s a hardy one. Find one that doesn’t scratch too easily and avoid any pumpkins with bug holes, mold or cracked areas. Find a nice cool spot to display your pumpkin, preferably out of direct sunlight.

If you plan to visit the Health Insurance Marketplace, type carefully.

If you’re trying to find the Health Insurance Marketplace online, watch out. 

There are several look alike sites out there just waiting for you. For instance, HealthCare.com looks a lot like the real marketplace, HealthCare.org. While you may be able to find legitimate plans there, they might not be available through the marketplace. That site generates leads to local insurance agents that will not be able to offer you financial assistance with your premiums. Only the government is allowed to do that. 

You’ll also want to be careful about purchasing any plan that starts before January 1, 2014. A marketplace plan’s coverage won’t start before then. Consumer Reports suggests that you start by calling the number of your state’s marketplace, where, with any luck, you’ll reach an actual human being.

You’ll be sorry - if you don’t stop apologizing.

Do you apologize when someone else bumps into you? 

Women do it more than men, and over-apologizing whittles away at your self esteem. Saying “I’m sorry” for things that are clearly not our fault can become a habit. Not only does constant apologizing undermine your credibility it can lessen the sincerity when a real apology is in order. 

To break the “I’m sorry” habit, you’ll first need to take note of how often you say it. If you’re an habitual apologizer, ask a friend to help you keep tabs on your apologies. Just becoming aware of how often you say “I’m sorry” and how often you hear it, can help you curb that self-destructive behavior. 

Do you have Benadryl brain? How it affects your memory...

There are several over-the-counter allergy medications that can actually mess with your memory. 

Some antihistamines, cold and headache remedies and even antacids contain anti-cholinergic drugs that can impair cognitive function and memory. Experts say these drugs can interfere with neurotransmitters in the brain, which we rely on for passing on messages. 

If you’re experiencing forgetfulness and concentration problems when taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, talk with your doctor about the ingredients and ask for an alternative remedy.

A lot of people watched the series finale of Breaking Bad. But even more people watched these famous farewells...

An estimated 10.3 million people watched the final episode of Breaking Bad last Sunday. 

That pales in comparison to some other famous finales. Here are the top 10:

10. Home Improvement, 1999: 35.5 million viewers watched the 204th episode at the end of 8 seasons.

9. Family Ties, 1989. 36.3 million viewers tuned in to see if Alex would take his dream job in New York and leave the Keaton family.

8. All in the Family, 1979. 40.2 million viewers watched as Archie professed his love for an ailing Edith.

7. The Cosby Show, 1992. 44.4 million viewers watched as Cliff finally got the doorbell to work.

6. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1992. 50 million viewers watched Johnny bid them “a very heartfelt good night.” 

5. Magnum, P.I., 1988. 50.7 million people had to know how it would all end.

4. Friends, 2004, 52.5 million viewers watched everyone live happily ever after. 

3. Seinfeld, 1998, 76.3 million viewers watched any many were disappointed. One critic dubbed the episode "So long, suckers!" 

2. Cheers, 1993, 80.4 million viewers enjoyed "One for the Road.”

1. M*A*S*H, 1983. 105.9 million viewers watched the Alan Alda-directed "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" episode of M*A*S*H.

If you’re wondering who shot J.R., Dallas came it at #12, right behind Frasier.

If you’d like to improve your home - move the laundry. The new must-have, in a moment…

Our dishwashers are in the kitchen, where we need them. So why are the washer and dryer in the basement? 

According to the Remodelers Council which tracks popular trends, convenient laundry locations are a must-have for house hunters. People don't want to lug laundry up and down stairs and relocating that space can pay off, for your home value and your back.

Ideally, it’s best to find a space with room to iron and hang, located near an existing bathroom, kitchen to avoid too much plumbing work. You’ll also need to consider venting and drainage. While relocating the laundry is no easy task, 92% of new-home buyers said they wanted a convenient laundry room more than a home office, library or sunroom, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Stop and smell the petrichor. What that is and why we like it.

There’s nothing quite like the unique smell after it rains. 

That scent is called petrichor. The term was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists. What we’re actually smelling is a combination of oils secreted by happy plants and bacteria released from the ground by the rain. The petrichor, in combination with ozone, which smells a bit like chlorine, creates that fresh, earthy scent that we’ve come to love.

Our love of petrichor is an inherited one from our ancestors, who relied on wet weather for survival.

There’s a premium flu vaccine on the market this season. Should you get it?

Did you get your flu shot yet? If not, you might want to ask if the new premium shot is available. 

According to Dr. William Schaffner, the new four-strain flu vaccine is here but may be hard to find. This new vaccine guards against four strains of the flu as opposed to the usual two or three. However, until vaccine manufacturers get up to speed, most vaccines out in the market will be the traditional three-strain variety. 

If you’re lucky enough to find it, Dr. Schaffner says that the fourth arm of protection can make a huge difference, depending on which strain prevails this season. He says your best bet to find the new vaccine is to contact several local vaccine providers including your doctor, pharmacy, community or worksite flu shot clinic—and ask whether they have the quadrivalent vaccine. When you find it, get it without delay before they run out.

It’s apple picking season. How to pick like a pro.

If you’re planning a trip to the orchard any time soon, pick your apples like a pro. 

Don’t just yank them off the tree. The trick is to gently twist the apple until it releases. If your apple doesn’t want to let go, pick another one. It’s probably not ready.

It’s also a good idea to ask the farmer which trees to hit first. He or she will know which varieties are ripe for the picking. Another way to check for ripeness is to check the seeds in one of them. They should be dark brown. If they’re pale, find another bunch. They stop ripening as soon as they’re picked.

Don’t just have eggs - have eggs and cantaloupe. Power food pairs...

If we pair the right foods, we can really boost the nutritional health benefits. 

Here are some power food pairs:

* Oatmeal and orange juice: Drinking vitamin C-rich orange juice while eating a bowl of real, not processed oatmeal helps to clean your arteries by stabilizing your LDL cholesterol. 

* Eggs and cantaloupe: The protein in the eggs works even better when you pair that with the good carbs in the cantaloupe. The protein slows the absorption of the sugars in the melon, resulting in sustained energy. Skip the starches like toast with this one. 

* Red meat and rosemary: Rosemary mixes well with all kinds of grilled foods and lowers the carcinogens. The herb's antioxidants literally soak up the meat's dangerous free radicals.

* Red wine and chocolate: This particular power pair has compounds that act as anticoagulants and can be good for cardiovascular health.

Having a bad day? Shave something. Emotional hacks that really work.

When things just aren’t going your way, there are a few tricks you can try to restore your emotional balance. 

Dr. Barton Goldsmith, author of “Emotional Fitness at Work,” has these physical hacks for an emotional fix: 

* Wash your hands and face and brush your teeth. It cools and cleans the parts of your body that you use most frequently and gives you that "fresh start" feeling.

* Put on clean socks and some shoes that you haven't worn in a few days. Shoes take a day or two to release any moisture they have absorbed, and this is a very easy way to put a little pep back into your step.

* Give yourself a good shave - face or legs. This is another instant refresher. Especially if you have sensitive skin or the weather is dry. Plus, when we know we are looking our best, we naturally feel better.

* Look at any trophy, diploma, or certificate of achievement that you have earned. If it isn't framed and on the wall, do that now. These are reminders of your accomplishments and important to maintaining your self-esteem. 

* Remember your last or greatest success and think about it for 60 seconds. Quite simply, it reminds you that if you've done it before, you can do it again.

* Wash your car, inside and out. Hey, when our wheels are shiny, we just feel better. 

* Organize your closet and get rid of anything that no longer fits. Throwing out the old makes room for the new. Switching up your wardrobe can give you a fresh new look and feel. 

* Cook a lovely meal. Even if you are by yourself, preparing a tasty dinner, setting the table, and treating yourself to a wonderful culinary experience will lift your spirits. Sharing it with someone you love or respect will make it even better.