You may be prepared for nasty weather - but what about your important documents. Paper protection...

In the event of bad weather or some other unforeseen disaster, you’ll want to be sure your papers are protected. 

Consumer Reports has a checklist of documents you’ll want to be able to grab and go:

• adoption papers;

• auto-insurance cards;

• birth certificate(s);

• health-insurance cards;

• Homeowners or renters insurance;

• life-insurance documents;

• marriage certificate;

• mortgage or real-estate deeds;

• passports or green cards;

• power(s) of attorney;

• Social Security card(s);

• vehicle registrations and titles; and

• will and living will.

It’s a good idea to have copies of these in a safe deposit box or with your lawyer, just in case. However, most of them need to be the originals or certified replacements. Originals should always be kept in a waterproof, fireproof box.

Mediterranean diets aren’t all olive oil and red wine. How to do it right...

The Mediterranean diet is in - but a lot of us are doing it all wrong. 

While it’s true that some of the Mediterranean fare of Greece, France and Italy can enhance a healthy diet, too much of a good thing, especially olive oil and red wine, can ruin the benefits. Those are two staples in the healthy diet, but it’s important to enjoy those in moderation and work the other Mediterranean elements in, including whole fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of fish and lean protein, and just three to four ounces of that delicious whole grain bread or pasta.

A true Mediterranean diet goes beyond food. Healthy Mediterraneans tend to get more sun, which means more vitamin D, stay active on a regular basis, while enjoying life at a slower pace overall. An authentic Mediterranean meal takes a long time to eat - a midst family and friends with plenty of conversation.

Check your wardrobe. Things that make you look old...

You could probably look a lot younger, just by adjusting your wardrobe. 

Kim Johnson Gross, author of “What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life,” has a dozen fashion don’ts:

1. Sneakers: Outside of the gym, they just look sloppy and careless. The same goes for other “comfortable” shoes such as loafers, moccasins and low-heeled pumps. 

2. Baggy pants: This style screams old on anyone over 25. Overly tight looks bad too. Well-fitting clothes make you look slimmer and younger.

3. Boring colors: Skin tone gets duller with age. Black is harsh on aging women and brown makes men fade into the woodwork. Try shades of gray and blue instead.

4. Your glasses: Men and women should have some fun with glasses. It's a great way to update your look and make it more modern. Tell your optician what you're looking for, or bring a stylish friend with you.

5. Turtlenecks: You may think a ­turtleneck hides a sagging neck and chin, but it just draws attention to your jowls.

6. Stiff or one-tone hair: An overly styled helmet of hair looks old-­fashioned. Hair that's a solid block of color looks unnatural and harsh. Invest in highlights or even go grey more gracefully with some silver highlights to brighten things up. Men NEED grey at the temples and should treat thinning hair as a badge of honor. Lose the comb over and keep it neatly trimmed or shave the head.

7. Missing or bushy eyebrows: Women's eyebrows tend to disappear with age. You’ll need an eyebrow pencil - save the tweezers for rogue hairs popping out elsewhere. Men's are more likely to grow wild. Ask the barber to trim them, every time.

8. Deeply tanned skin: Leathery skin is out and now pale is the norm. A dark tan not only dates you, it increases wrinkles and your risk for skin cancer.­

9. Less-than-white teeth: Yellowing teeth add decades to your appearance. Everyone's teeth get yellower with age, but with so many teeth-whitening products available, there is no excuse to live with off-color teeth.

10. Nude or beige panty hose: They’re out of date. Young women can go with bare legs but older women should consider darker stocking or tights in the winter.

11. Poor-fitting bra: Get one that fits. You’re not the same size you used to be. 

12. Excess makeup. Thick foundation, heavy eyeliner, bright blusher and red lipstick all add years to your face.

Who's your Googlegänger?

Who's your Googlegänger? 

It’s the person who shows up in a Google search when you search your own name. Here are some more unusual words that might just come in handy:

* That tingling feeling when your foot is alsleep is called paresthesia.

* Have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? You’re suffering from dysania.

* Check your prescription for griffonage. It’s a doctor’s illegible handwriting.

* An apthong is a silent letter, like the k in knife.

* Go ahead, rub your glabella.  It's the spot between your eyebrows.

* If you feel awful after eating or drinking too much, that feeling is crapulous.

Too much pain reliever is hard on the liver. What to take instead...

Take some olive oil, and call me in the morning. 

If you’re dependent on over-the-counter pain relievers, you probably already know those are hard on our organs, particularly the liver. Working some olive oil into your daily diet could help you cut back on the OTC stuff. Recent studies have found that extra virgin olive oil can actually help to relieve pain and inflammation, much like ibuprofen does. As a matter of fact, 1.75 ounces of olive oil is equivalent to about 10% of the recommended adult dose of ibuprofen.

When choosing your olive oil relief, freshness counts. It’s worth your while to splurge on quality extra virgin olive, preferably organic. Two teaspoons a day is the recommended daily dosage to help relieve pain and inflammation.

Chances are, you know a narcissist. Symptoms of the self-absorbed...

Do you know someone who needs a LOT of attention? 

They could be suffering from Narcissism. A true narcissist takes bad behavior to new levels and can ultimately do some real damage to themselves and the people around them. Here are some symptoms to help you spot someone with NPD, or narcissistic personality disorder:

* A sense of self-importance: A narcissist will often exaggerate achievements or talents and expects to be recognized for them. 

* They are often preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, beauty, or ideal love.

* Narcissists tend to believe they’re special and can only be understood by high-status people or institutions.

* They also require excessive admiration and have a very strong sense of entitlement.

* Narcissists often lack empathy and refuse to identify with the needs of others.

* They may be envious of others or believe that others are envious of them.

Arrogance is the primary red flag of narcissism. Someone who can not curb that behavior could be suffering from NPD. The disorder is more common in males and symptoms usually peak in their 40s and 50s. While it is treatable, it may come as no surprise that most narcissist refuse to acknowledge the problem and will not seek treatment.

If you do have a narcissist in your life, that relationship is probably fragile. Those suffering from narcissism will likely give you the cold shoulder if you can’t meet their expectations for attention and control.

What were the first words ever spoken? Why they're not fit for radio...

Human language has come a long way - but chances are it all started with a curse word. 

Swearing is nothing new, and according to some experts, expletives were likely the first words ever uttered to communicate pain or frustration. 

As the English language developed, so did our cursing. If you really wanted to shock someone in medieval times, “By God’s Nails” was the go-to phrase. It wasn’t until the Victorian era that body parts and functions were considered obscenities. Even the word “leg” would turn heads and the proper types were to use the word “limb” instead. The word “bloody” reigned as the dirtiest word until our favorite hit the fan in the mid to late 1800s. 

Not all dog toys are created equal.

What’s your dog’s favorite toy? 

Most dogs have a clear preference and according to Anne Pullen of the University of Bristol's Veterinary School, the best dog toys are soft, easily manipulable toys that can be chewed easily and make a noise. That’s because dogs are attracted to toys like wolves are attracted to prey. They prefer toys that either taste good or can be torn apart. A really good toy will give them the impression it can be torn to shreds but will be sturdy enough to stay in tact in order to prevent ingestion and injury. Most dogs prefer that squeaky toy because that toy fighting back appeals to their inner wolf.

Music can make you smarter. And wait until you hear which songs...

Move over Bach and Beethoven, listening to Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus can make you smarter. 

That’s what Dr Emma Gray, a scientists who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, says. Her research has found that pop songs with 50 to 80 beats per minute like 'We Can't Stop' by Miley Cyrus or 'Mirrors' by Justin Timberlake fostered logical thoughts and helped students to learn and recall new facts, especially while studying subjects such as humanities or language. If you’re studying for a math test, you might want to take it down a notch. Students who listened to classical scored higher on those tests.

Don’t eat those - stare at them. How that curbs cravings, coming up…

If you’d rather not eat that whole tray of brownies or bag of chips - try staring at them instead. 

It worked for some overweight kids in a recent study. They were asked to rate their cravings for some treats like Cheetos and french fries. Then, they were asked to sniff it, taste it and stare at it for five full minutes. After staring the junk food down, they rated their craving again. It worked. The cravings were reduced significantly and some participants in that group reported thinking before eating and resisting cravings for up to six months after the study.

Do you hate the sound of your own voice? Why it makes some people cringe...

You sound nothing like you think you do. 

Some people can’t stand the sound of their own voice when they hear a recording of it - and that’s because it’s not the voice you’re used to hearing. Every other sound we hear travels to our ear in the form of a wave of pressure moving through the air. The outside of your ear catches that and funnels that sound into your head. 

Our own voice however, enters the brain from two sides. The version you hear is enhanced by other sounds inside your body, including vibrations from your vocal chords in the head and neck. That gives you a much fuller perspective, as you’re hearing your voice from both inside and out. When you hear it back on a recording, it probably sounds a lot thinner with less bass and dimension - but it is how you sound to other people.

Who decided we can’t wear white after Labor Day?

Have you packed away all of your summer whites? 

The fashion industry has been bending that rule ever since it started. We have the high-falootin’ types to thank for that potential fashion faux-pas. It started back in the late 1800’s, when wealthy fashionistas made up all sorts of rules to set themselves apart from the new-money crowd. The old-money mavens deemed white for weddings and resort-wear only and wouldn’t be caught dead at another seasonal soiree all washed out in white.

For those of you who love to break the wearing white rule, you’re in good company. Several socialites have stood out in the fashion crowd by bucking that trend, including Coco Chanel who wore white year round.

Craving something sweet? What your body really wants, in a minute…

There's a reason your craving that those chips, chocolate or cheeseburgers. 

Here's what your body is really asking for:

* If you’re craving sweets, your blood sugar could be fluctuating. Candy or cake will only make it worse. Have a piece of fruit instead. 

* Gotta have chocolate? You probably need some magnesium. Make sure it’s dark chocolate or try some nuts or seeds instead.

* If you MUST have salt, you could be stressed out. Take some deep breaths before you indulge and you might eat less. 

* Craving red meat probably means you need iron. If you can’t find a burger, you could get that from some beans, prunes or other dried fruit. 

* Needing cheese suggests you really do need a little fat. Go ahead and have some or opt for walnuts or wild salmon if you’re watching your weight.

Ever get little white spots on your fingernails?

You might notice little white spots on your fingernails from time to time. 

No need to worry. It’s not a calcium or zinc deficiency. Those spots were most likely caused by minor trauma to the nail or nail bed that probably happened weeks ago. Just having a manicure can even do the minor damage. White spots on the nails can also be an indication of an allergy to a nail polish or product, a side effect to a medication or possibly a mild infection, but they’re no cause for concern and will grow out with your nails.

If you’d like to get farther on a gallon of gas - lose the bike rack. How much it guzzles...

We all know slowing down can save gas - but you may be surprised at how much it saves. 

Consumer Reports did the math and calculated some average savings for us. If you drive 65, you’re getting about 8 miles less per gallon than at 55 mph. At 75, you’re losing 14 miles per gallon. That’s over 250 miles lost on an 18 gallon tank. 

If you’ve got a bike rack on your car - take it off when not in use. The rack alone eats up about 5 gallons per mile. Add two bikes and you’re losing up to 15 miles per gallon.