Your toothbrush is filthy! Here's how to keep it cleaner...

Your toothbrush is crawling with bacteria... 

According to EverydayHealth.com, the average toothbrush is hosting about 10 million germs at any given time. There’s not much you can do about that. After just one use, the bacteria-fest begins. The good news is that most of those germs and bacteria are NOT the kind that makes us sick. There are some things you can do to keep your toothbrush a little cleaner:

• Store your toothbrush in an upright position. 

• Soak your brush in alcohol to kill the germs. You can also soak it in mouthwash or a solution of half water and half hydrogen peroxide. 

• Dip your brush in boiling water for five to 10 seconds. Never put your toothbrush in the dishwasher or the microwave.

It’s a good idea to buy a new toothbrush or brush head at least once every three months. One easy way to remember when to change your toothbrush is to change it on the first day of each new season.

Who’s IQs are higher – women or men?

Congratulations ladies! For the first time in IQ history, yours are higher than men’s... 

IQ researcher James Flynn has been looking at IQ data from western European countries, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Estonia and discovered that women have finally taken the lead. Over the past few decades, both male and female IQs have improved, but the women enjoyed a more dramatic surge. 

According to Flynn, women may have a higher potential for intelligence – and now that they are given more opportunity to compete in the world outside the home, that brain power is more accurately reflected in IQ testing.

Does your clothes dryer take forever? Here's a trick to dry your load faster...

Waiting for clothes to dry in the dryer can be like watching grass grow...  

Here’s an easy trick that can speed up your drying cycle. Just throw a dry towel in there. It absorbs excess moisture from your clothes and can cut your drying time by 25%. Another trick is to run your dryer for a minute before you load it up. Giving it a chance to generate some heat before throwing those wet clothes in can cut another 10% off total drying time.

Cheap Thrills

At most theme or amusement parks – the price of admission is just the beginning of the spending spree. 

Here are some tricks that can really add up and save you big bucks at the park:

• Food and drinks: Bring your own! Using refillable water bottles can save a family $50 a day on drinks. You’ll save triple that by packing your own food.

• Souvenirs: If you’re determined to spend time and money on that – agree to do that at the end of the day. By then, young children will be less impressed with all the bells and whistles.

If you just drive to the park and pay full price – you’re probably paying too much. Be sure to check the web before you go. Search the name of the park and add “coupon” or “discount.” Tickets purchased online are usually MUCH cheaper than at the gate.

You’ve been offered the job. Should you accept? Not before asking these questions...

Congratulations - you got the job! 

No matter how excited you are, don’t accept – yet. Karen James Chopra, career expert at the Washington Post has 5 questions you NEED to ask them first:

1. When do you need an answer by? Always ask how many days you have to make your decision. You should be given at least a 24-hour buffer to think over an offer. This also lets them know to expect some negotiations.

2. Can I receive a copy of the offer and the benefits package? Sometimes candidates forget what the actual offer is. Make sure you request a follow-up email with the job title, the annual salary, and a complete copy of the benefits package.

3. When is the start date? Make sure you're on the same page concerning your start date. The employer may think you can start ASAP - but you may need to give two weeks' notice to your current employer.

4. Is the salary negotiable? Now is the time to negotiate. If the person you're speaking with hesitates - there's probably room to negotiate. If the response is a quick, firm "no", decide whether you want to settle for it. 

5. Can I have all this in writing? Ask to get a confirmation of everything you negotiated, even if it's just an email that sums up the modified offer.

Up to 10% of us are addicted to something – and it’s not a substance...

There’s a chance someone you know is addicted to love... 

It’s a real addiction and it can be very problematic. Experts estimate about 10% of adults are overly-dependent on love.  Most of us can relate to the feelings of excitement and attachment that go hand in hand with love – especially a new one - but for addicts, those feelings can become all too consuming. 

Steve Sussman, author of “Love Addiction,” says there’s a specific type of love addiction which happens when the addict seeks to replicate the emotional high of a new relationship over and over again. He explains, when you're in love, the body releases a bunch of chemicals that make you feel energetic, happy and motivated, such as dopamine. Those feelings are more intense and even drug-like early on in a relationship. Some love addicts continually seek out new love interests in order to reproduce that early-relationship high.

Canker sores are a real pain in the mouth!

Having a canker sore in your mouth is painful and can drive you nuts! 

Fatigue, stress and diet can all set one off – as can a self-inflicted mouth injury. There are a few things you can do to ease the pain of a canker sore and speed the healing:

• Make your own remedy: Mix together equal amounts of Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl and apply by dabbing the sore with a cotton swab. Milk of Magnesia coats wet tissue and the Benadryl acts as mild anesthetic and anti-inflammatory.

• Don’t forget to rinse: Combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda and 2 ounces hydrogen peroxide. Mix and rinse your mouth with it four times daily. This can speed up the healing process considerably.

• Watch what you eat: Avoid hot foods and beverages for a few days. Those can irritate and undo any healing you’ve accomplished. If you're plagued with frequent canker sores, pay attention to whether an outbreak seems to be linked with any particular food. Likely offenders include nuts, shellfish, chocolate and tomatoes. 

Generic items may cost less – but some just can’t compare. Which store-brand items just won’t do...

About 40% of us buy more store-brand items than name-brand...  

But a new survey found some items that shoppers just DON’T want to compromise on. Here are the top three:

• Paper goods: Toilet paper rolls are often smaller and lighter, plates flimsier and towels and tissues less absorbent. 

• Cleaning products: Store brands are often not as effective. Consumers are particularly picky with laundry and dish detergents.

• Macaroni and cheese: Shoppers are super loyal when it comes to boxed macaroni and cheese. Kraft is the favorite by far. Store brands are often less cheesy and too orange.

Roses are in full bloom. Why you MUST stop and smell one today...

Stop and smell the roses! 

They’re in abundance right now and they can do wonders for your memory. German researchers put smelling roses to the test. Participants were asked to memorize hidden locations – and those who were allowed to smell roses for the experiment recalled 13% more than those who did not. 

While you’re busy smelling the roses – pick a few. Place them in a vase by your bed tonight. People who sleep next to roses have more pleasant dreams and wake up happier.

Move over green tea – now green coffee is all the rage...

If you haven’t heard about green coffee yet – you will soon...  

It’s all the rage in the weight-loss world – but you won’t be able to drink it. Green coffee is the raw, unroasted bean. It’s very bitter with little caffeine and almost no aroma. Nutrition experts say these little green beans can pack a powerful punch. Taken in extract form, green coffee has been shown to reduce appetite, block carb calories and increase fat-burning. 

As with any supplement, you’ll need to check with your doctor before giving green coffee extract a try.

If you’ve got an insatiable sweet tooth – I’ve got the cure...

If you’re trying to cut back on sweets – stock up on pickles! 

Pickles can do wonders at curbing cravings – especially if you’ve got a soft-spot for sweet stuff. Pickles are crunchy, sour, pungent and spicy, all at once, and overwhelm the senses. 

In a recent experiment, hungry participants were practically drooling over some delicious desserts they would soon be eating. First, they had to eat a pickle. In most cases, the urge to eat the sweets was gone in as little as 10 seconds. Those who insisted on dessert say they ate less of it than they would have pre-pickle.

Could you be a sleepwalker?

More people are taking midnight strolls than ever – but they probably don’t know it...  

New research says sleepwalking is on the rise in adults. Experts estimate as many as 1/3 of us are doing it. It’s hard to get accurate numbers on sleepwalkers because many of them have no recollection of it. Here are some factors that increase the odds of walking around in your sleep:

• Family history

• Alcohol abuse

• Depression

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

• Use of antidepressants

• Use of over-the-counter sleeping pills

In the event you do encounter a sleepwalker – it is not dangerous to wake them. Chances are they will be confused and disoriented and may not recognize you. Stay calm and quietly guide them back to their bed.

If you’re taking allergy pills – don’t swallow them with juice!

The next time you’re washing down some allergy pills – use water...

Certain fruit juices can interfere with certain medications – and allergy pills are not exception. Juices such as apple, orange and grapefruit can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of those drugs – by up to 67%.

Taking pills with water is always your best bet – especially if you’re taking antibiotics or blood-pressure medication.

Should you switch your child’s pediatrician? Red flags to watch for...

Your child’s pediatrician should be more than a good doctor – he or she needs to be a nice person too... 

According to George LeMaitre, author of “How to Choose a Good Doctor,” a crummy personality can put your child’s health at risk. He has a list of red flags that could suggest it’s time to switch:

• Apathetic or patronizing attitude: A pediatrician needs to be patient with your child's fears and give you the opportunity to ask questions, and provide clear, informative answers. If she’s hurried, dismissive, or impatient, it's time to find someone else.

• Poor listener: Listening is a huge part of assessment. If the doctor is busy scribbling a prescription before hearing out all of your concerns, something important might be missed.

• Bad recommendations: Check out a consumer review website to see what other people have said. If a doctor has several bad reviews, take note. You can also contact your state medical board to see if your doctor has committed any major infractions.

If you’d like a new car but can’t afford it – drive a sign instead...

Have you ever wondered what it would take to drive around in one of those cars wrapped in a sign?

Money – of course. If you don’t particularly like the looks of your car anyway, why not have it wrapped in advertising and make some money to put towards a new one. Driving a wrapped car could earn you anywhere from $200 to $400 a month!

Billboard cars aren’t for everyone though. First of all, you have to not mind being seen in it. Secondly, you need to be on the road often. Most ad-car drivers are required to travel 800 to 1,600 miles per month. The car will be equipped with a GPS system that will be used to track your travel.

If high-profile driving is for you – here are a few companies you can contact: Ad-wraps.com, Automurals.com or Autowraps.com.