Did you know??

That an apple,

not caffeine,

is more efficient in

waking you up in the mornings?

Birthday Party Tips

* Write each child's name on a cup to serve as a place card. This will stop confusion when you go to give them refills.

* Several hours before the party line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and place one scoop of ice cream in each. Store in the freezer until serving time. For an extra special treat sprinkle with sprinkles.

* Place birthday candles on toothpicks before inserting into the cake. They will stay in place better.

* Pay a couple of teenagers to help out at your next party. They can serve refreshments, help with games, and with clean up.

* Not sure how many kids to invite? A good rule of thumb is one guest per age of the birthday child.

* Pass on making a whole cake and bake cupcakes. Have the kids decorate their own.

Protect your blonde color this summer!

If you are like me and pay to be blonde...be sure to get your money's worth by protecting it and keeping your color this summer!

When doing Extreme Makeover on ABC, my hair dresser told me:

1) Only wash your hair every 2-3 days. It's not a hard change to make. I've been doing every other hair washing days 4 years now. It just becomes automatic.

2) Don't straighten your hair everyday. Typically, I will straighten it the first day and pull it up on the 2nd day.

3) Before you jump in that pool or lake, put a layer of conditioner in your hair!
By doing so, the chlorine has a harder time getting to your hair, turning it that awful green color. >:(

If you're anything like me, I get in and out of the water several times. I recommend putting more conditioner in your hair each time you get out to lay in the sun. I never hit the pool or ocean without my Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner. It's easy to travel with and use anywhere!

Ten Dieting Tips For REAL Women

We don't live in Hollyweird, with our private chefs, Pilate's gurus, and personal trainers. We are real women, in the real world. We have 15 minute dinners before scouts, laundry for a million children, and the soft bellies that carried said children.

BUT, we can still be fit, healthy mommas if we diet smart.

Here are a few things you can do to help:

• 1. Use a child's or salad plate.
• 2. Limit your juice to one 8oz serving a day. Juice has just as many calories as soda.
• 3. Since you cut down on your juice, grab more fruit. Whole fruit is filled with healthy, tummy filling fiber.
• 4. Eat at home. Most restaurant entrees have 1000-2000 calories. Do you want to use up your whole day's worth at one spot?
• 5. DON'T SKIP MEALS! It causes nothing more than binge eating later, an a slow metabolism all day.
• 6. Keep bags of frozen veggies and pre-cooked chicken on hand for quick, easy low-cal meals.
• 7. Brush your teeth after dinner. Who wants to re-brush them after a nighttime snack?
• 8. Yoga isn't just for hippies. An hour-long class burns ad many calories as an hour of walking, and relaxes, as well as builds muscle tone.
• 9. Do bars grow on trees? Nope...ditch the chemical-filled fad bars for healthy, natural snacks such as fruit, veggies, nuts, or even a glass of low fat milk.
• 10. Start small. Little changes over time can make a big impact. Don't let yourself get too overwhelmed by too many changes at once.

Denise Austin: Get your free fitness success plan!

Blissful Banana Bread Pudding

The desert I'm asked to bring to every family gathering!

4 cups cubed day-old French or sourdough bread (1-inch pieces)
1/4 cup margarine, melted
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sliced firm bananas (1/4-inch pieces)

Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place the bread cubes in a greased 2-qt. casserole; pour butter over and toss to coat. In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs; add milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir in bananas.

Poor over bread cubes and stir to coat.

Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, for sauce, melt better in a small saucepan.

Combine sugar and cornstarch; add to butter.

Stir in milk and corn syrup.

Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil.

Boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla.

Serve warm sauce over warm pudding.

Yield: 6 servings

Got Style?

Defying Rules and Defining Personal Style:

Having style is not about being dressed in latest trends from the runway. It is not fashion because fashion is a manufactured product. Style is self awareness, confidence and the way you live and what you do. Personal style is constant unlike fashion which constantly changes.
One can be completely naked and have style; it is in the way you carry yourself, the way you look someone confidently in the eye and how you shake hands. It is the way your spirit shines through your eyes.

To begin to develop your own style one has to start with a good foundation (no, not make-up or bra's! we'll get to those foundations later). I am referring to our personal foundation, our inner self. The ancient Romans (a stylish society indeed) had a saying, "Style reveals the inner self".
So now you are saying to yourself "that is all great and good but how do I begin to create my own personal style?" My answer is to Know Thy Self. Begin with asking yourself Who am I? What am I most comfortable wearing? and How do I want others to see me?

Below are a few tips to begin creating your personal style foundation:

Get your beauty sleep: is more than an old wives quote. We should think of our skin as a gift wrap for the soul. Does your gift-wrap invite others to peek inside? Sleep is the time when our body and soul renew. Many studies done by doctors and the medical world have proven sleep deprivation causes our immune systems to decrease, impaired thinking and ability to make good decisions, stress levels to surge and leaving our physical bodies energy depleted which manifest on our face as dark circles, dull skin and hair and an overall worn out look.
We need a min. of 7 hours sleep per night. It can vary more but not less than 6 hours. Even a consistent 6 hours of sleep a night isn't enough unless you take a nap in the afternoon.

Beauty is not only Skin Deep: Skin is the largest organ of the body. It is often overlooked and overstressed and it shows. Take care of your skin. Get a good skin care regiment and do it morning and night, all over your body. Clean, Exfoliate, Moisturize, sun-protection and drink water to help flush out impurities.
Decrease wrinkles by worrying less and smiling more. Meditate and visualize peace and happiness even if it is just 5 minutes a day.

Care for your hair: This is one part of us that we can change daily to fit our mood! We can put it up in pony tail, comb it back, color it, curl it, straighten it. Beneath that hair is our scalp that is the foundation to its bounce and shine. Know your hair type (dry, oily,thin, limp, normal) and take care of it accordingly. For dry hair moisturize and deep condition once a week, Oily hair needs to be washed frequently with effective shampoo. Keep your split ends trimmed and have a good cut and shape every 6-8 weeks. If you color your hair be sure it is the right tone and color for your skin type and no roots or bi-colored head... dark on top light on the bottom ... ;o(

Stay tuned for more style development tips.


.

What’s Hot for Spring Fashion 2007

The Next Big Thing According to Neiman Marcus:

Metallics – Handbags, shoes and even clothing!

Dresses – Hemlines above the knee, wraps and the shirt dress especially.

Delicate Blouses – Light silk blouses are cool as things warm up this spring.

Patent – Oh so shiny, sport a patent bag or shoes!

Jewelry - Big, chunky, silver jewelry is the thing to have this spring.

Find more spring fashions at Neiman Marcus' Next Big Things.

Need help pulling it all together? Neiman’s also offers “Instant Style” where you can view entire outfits in the latest fashion trends!