Blog Posts by Tips on Healthy Living

By Crystal Paine
Author of The Money Saving Mom's Budget
Are you crunched for time and money this holiday season? We feel your pain. Here are six simple and inexpensive last-minute gift ideas that convey the spirit of the season without draining your bank account.

For the kids:
Homemade Playdough
Make a few different varieties of homemade playdough like peppermint, ginger, or candy cane, package them in cute containers and tie on cookie cutters and a small rolling pin with a ribbon. They'll provide hours of fun and creative play.

Build-Your-Own Snowman
If you don't live in a frigid climate or you just don't want to have to bundle up to go out in the cold, your children can still enjoy decorating their own snowman with a felt build-your-own snowman kit.

For him:
Year Round Yum
They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that's true for your man, than making him a Year Round Yum container just might hit the spot.

Grill

ThanksgivingTable_Apple_CanBy Kristin Sidorov
The holidays usually arrive with their fair share of diet-damaging traditions, especially when it comes to food. Rich, high-calorie feasts are almost everywhere you turn, and it can be hard to stick to your health and diet goals without feeling like you have to give up the merry customs you love. This year, you don't have to.

Believe it or not, most of your favorite holiday foods are actually chock full of health benefits. With a few tweaks here and there, your beloved holiday meal can be a healthy one, too. Moderation is key, as usual.

Turkey
When not slathered in gravy, turkey is a super low-cal source of protein, with less than half the saturated fat of beef. It's also a great source of selenium, which can help support the immune system, and contains niacin and vitamin B6, essential for energy metabolism and brain function. Stick to the white meat for a leaner cut.

Sweet Potatoes
These guys are packed with antioxidants like Vitamin C and beta carotene, which

Holidays_EatingHealthy_300The holidays are a great time to spend time with loved ones and to celebrate everything you've accomplished during the year. But the weeks between now and New Year's Day can also be a minefield if you're on a diet. Office parties, tins packed with tempting homemade cookies, big holiday dinners, extra stress and little time left to exercise all make it very hard to stick to your healthy plan.

With these easy ideas from the 17 Day Diet Workbook by Dr. Mike Moreno, you'll still have time to prepare yourself for the holidays and greet the New Year with optimism instead of regret.

Always eat a good breakfast. If you start out the day hungry, it's twice as easy to justify grabbing that cookie on your way to a meeting. Keep good snacks on hand all day-fiber keeps you full and more satisfied than a candy bar ever will.

If you know you're going to a party, eat a light lunch to save some calories for later. But don't starve yourself or slash calories. That is bad for your body and can make you

Everyone likes to save money, but a bit of planning ahead can save you dollars and time at the supermarket. Follow these simple suggestions from Sarah Kallio and Stacey Krastins, authors of Stocked Kitchen: One Grocery List…Endless Recipes and never toss away unused food again.

-Always check for sales, but especially on the more expensive items. Whether we are out or not, we always check to see if frozen shrimp, canned lump crabmeat, and the other items on the list are on sale. We bring them home and, when appropriate, put them right in the freezer.

-If possible, buy canned goods by the case. They stay good, almost, forever. If you have the room to store them, it's much more economical to buy them in bulk. We love our warehouse retail chains for this!

-We recommend buying ingredients in the sizes suggested on the list. We have paid close attention, making sure sizes are usable and the least wasteful. We've erred on the side of opening more cans rather than having half of the

Garlands can be displayed along banisters or draped across window frames to spread seasonal warmth throughout your home. Use these tips to make simple bouquets to weave into a garland of your choosing, from Homemade: The Heart and Science of Handcrafts by Carol Endler Sterbenz.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS
Silk or fresh flowers and foliage, as desired
Wire, twine, or rope, in precut lengths (for base cord)
Paddle wire or thread-wrapped spool wire, medium-gauge
Floral tape, in green
Tape measure or ruler
Floral knife or scissors
Wire cutters

Step 1
Arrange a bouquet.

Lay the plant material on a flat surface, stems facing the same way. Pick up several stems of flowers and foliage in the desired kinds and colors and assemble them into a small bouquet, adding or removing material, until the bouquet is full enough to cover half of the width of the base. For a garland that will rest on a table or against a wall, keep the back of

Everyone loves a nice, sleek blowout-but you want to make sure you get your money's worth. Use these simple tips to maintain your newly blown-out hair through day two and beyond. From hair and makeup artist Eva Scrivo, author of Eva Scrivo on Beauty: The Tools, Techniques, and Insider Knowledge Every Woman Needs to Be Her Most Beautiful, Confident Self.

There are two steadfast rules for extending the life of a blowout: (1) use small amounts of product on your hair and (2) stay away from water in all forms, including steam and humidity. I am not saying that you should forgo bathing or skip the products altogether. If you eliminate the crucial step of protecting your hair from direct heat, it will be adversely affected over time. Mist a foundation spray and apply a minimal amount of styling product (a few drops of smoothing serum can be best for smoothness and heat protection).

Moisture is the mortal enemy of a blowout. The faintest hint of dampness (from humidity, steam,

By Kristin Sidorov
When the weather outside is frightful, it can be all too tempting to hunker down, hibernate, and avoid working out. But colder weather is no excuse to give up on your fitness goals. Finding a winter workout plan that's right for you is all about attitude and a little creativity. These motivational tips and techniques will keep you on track through the year's toughest months.

Warm Up!
Outdoors, staying warm is crucial to a safe workout-not to mention an enjoyable one. Luckily, there's tons of gear out there designed to do just that. Who says Santa can't come early? Under Armour, REI, Asics, and Athleta carry cute, comfy tops, pants, gloves, neck warmers, and headgear designed to keep warmth in and sweat out. Be sure to wear layers; they allow for flexibility (you can shed a few if you get too hot) and are the most effective method of staying warm. Always protect your extremities-running gloves are essential, as are quality performance socks like

By Crystal Paine
Author of The Money Saving Mom's Budget
The holidays are almost here and many of us still have gift shopping left to do. If you want to avoid the crowds, the lines, and the traffic by staying home and shopping online, here are three tips to find the best deal.

1) Don't pay for shipping.
High shipping prices can quickly kill an otherwise fantastic online deal. But many sites, such as OldNavy.com and Kohls.com, offer free shipping when you place a minimum $50 purchase. Check out FreeShipping.org for the latest free shipping coupons available at a wide variety of online retailers.

More than 1,800 online merchants are participating in Free Shipping Day on Friday, Dec. 16. These sites are offering free shipping specials with guaranteed delivery in time for Christmas. Be sure to take advantage of this great deal.

2) Use a coupon code.
Before you buy anything online, always check to see if there's a coupon code available to give you a little