When the brakes slammed on our economy the past year, many of us felt our lives simply spiral out of control.Â

The floor dropped out of the aspects of our lives that were on shaky ground prior to 2008, and those things that seemed safe no longer seemed infallible. In addition, perhaps the ways we once found comfort in the past (like shopping) were no longer advisable or either possible with the tightening credit market. Read the rest »

Your family is growing, and you need more room.

The real estate market is slow, though, so instead of buying a larger home, you may be considering finishing your basement to gain a playroom, office or exercise room.

Maybe that’s your New Year’s Resolution, and you plan to hit Home Depot for your supplies and get started on the project. Read the rest »

The new year is upon us and for many of us this means thinking about what we want to do to improve the quality of our lives. Below I took the top 5 New Year’s Resolutions and offered you a mindset twist on how to attain each of them.

1. Lose 10+ lbs. Focus on health versus weight. Tell yourself, “When I’m exercising and eating healthy I feel better, look better, and have more energy.”

2. Drink Less. Focus on healthy alternatives and how good you’ll feel from making a healthy choice. For example when you drink more water you’ll lose more weight, have nicer hair, better skin and nails. Read the rest »

I’ve found that re-connecting with the magical wonder the season brings gives true meaning to the word “joy”. Share the holiday joy through the eyes of children and take in all this season has to offer.

Lights. Have you made a trip down a lighted street? It’s so much fun to see! We visited a street called “Candy Cane Lane”. It was so neat to see the different celebrations blended together with lights. I had so much pleasure from my two boy’s reactions. We must’ve gone down the street 5 times! Read the rest »

When I think of Thanksgiving I think of family togetherness and lots, and lots of food. Most of us enjoy our family and food, but don’t enjoy the way we feel after eating. Many of us experience uncomfortable bloating, and a stuffed, “heavy” feeling. Here are a few tips to beat the holiday bloat so you look back at your Thanksgiving with fond memories.

*Serve Yourself: Usually when others serve us they want to be gracious and have a tendency to give large portions. By serving yourself you’ll know exactly what you have on your plate.

*Don’t Go Hungry: If you come to dinner really hungry you’ll be likely to eat too much too fast. Have a healthy snack before you leave to avoid over eating. Read the rest »

When was the last time you had a really relaxing holiday?

I don’t mean that peaceful thirty-minute aftermath that follows a successful dinner party or the kids’ gift-opening extravaganza. I mean a holiday that is relaxing, from beginning to end. That includes travel, dinner preparations, and shopping.

All it will take is a little organization and advance planning. Here are some tips to get you started. Read the rest »

Good fats for better fertility

Once upon a time, and not that long ago, fat was a four-letter word. Diet and nutrition gurus told us (and some still tell us) to cut back on fat whenever and wherever possible. Millions of Americans have dutifully followed that advice. Guided by the low-fat mantra, we tossed out salad dressings and mayonnaise made with olive oil or canola oil in favor of fat-free versions made with extra sugar. We replaced other fats in the diet with carbohydrates, usually the rapidly digested ones in white flour, potatoes, white rice, and sugar. This purge didn’t make us any healthier. It had no effect on heart disease, its intended target. And it may have contributed to the epidemic of obesity sweeping the country. Read the rest »