Blog Posts by Anderson Team

Will you follow your H-E-A-R-T?
Guest blogger: Dr. John M. Kennedy
Los Angeles based cardiologist Dr. John M. Kennedy shares five inexpensive ways to a healthier heart. Dr. Kennedy says these tips are as easy as following your H-E-A-R-T!

1. H: Heal Your Blood Pressure

Your goal blood pressure should be 2. E: Exercise

You don't need a fancy, expensive gym membership to lower your risk of heart disease. Research shows that walking for 15 minutes 5 times a week can lower risk of heart disease by as much as 20%. Also, try to park further from work, take the stairs and, if possible, ride your bike to work a couple times a week.

A larger waist size is associated with higher cardiac risk. Ideally, males should have a waist size less than 40 inches and females less than 38 inches.

Try to eat foods that boost your metabolism, like apples and pears, and drink more water. Research from Germany found that when subject drank 17 ounces or more of water a day, their ability to burn calories increased

All summer long we updated you on the progress of our new set for Season 2 of "Anderson Live," and today, we bring you some photos of our brand new set!

Anderson had previously expressed his involvement in the concept and design -- which will feature personal touches, like his mother's artwork. Our Executive In Charge, Susan, also gave a detailed account of what the process entails for building a new set from scratch.

After months of hard work, here is a first look at the new "Anderson Live" studio… check out some of the photos and be sure to watch the giant season premiere on Sept 10! Click here to find out when the show airs in your town.

See the photos

VISIT ANDERSONCOOPER.COM:

Season 2 Promo: Anderson on Set

Check Out Photos from 'Anderson' Season 2 Promo Shoot

Anderson's Favorite Summer Reads

More Photos of the New 'Anderson' Office

Anderson Shares Childhood Memories with Kathy Griffin

The Best 'Anderson' Surprises

Anderson's Top 5 Summer Book Recommendations

10

How will you save?

Guest Blogger: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

If you're the parent of a student, you may be looking forward to back-to-school season - and dreading it as well. You're looking forward to it because - let's be honest - you want those kids out of your hair and you can't bear to hear them say "I'm bored!" one more time.

At the same time, though, you probably have a sense of dread about all that money you think you'll have to fork over to get the kids ready for school.

Don't miss out on great coupon deals - typically from 10% to 50% off - from local and national retailers alike. Some coupons come in circulars in your mailbox and often feature sales on clothing, shoes and other back-to-school items - all from merchants right in your area.

A quick web search of the phrase "coupon" or "coupon code" and the store or product you want should yield a coupon that will save you money.

Daily deal sites can lead you to some

What expectations does your child have for back to school season?

Guest Blogger: Leslie H. Tayne, Esq.

It's back to school season and parents who may be struggling financially may not be able to fulfill their child's back-to-school wish list this year. Managing your budget and child's expectations can be tough, so here are some tips on how to talk with your kids about your financial situation and how to handle the peer pressures children may receive from other students in terms of having the latest and greatest for back to school.

Don't feel pressured to conform and spend more money over concerns of your child being an "outcast."

It's an important lesson for children to learn that we can't have everything we see and want. Teach them the difference between wants and needs. Children should learn that purchases need to be saved for and cannot be bought impulsively.

Just as adults should be budgeting to avoid overspending, children too can be taught to put money aside. Teach children some basic principles

This week we researched the latest hi-tech gadgets for pets. Did your favorite make the list? "Anderson Live" wants to hear about the hi-tech gadget you love.

We're also looking for dog owners who are struggling with their out-of-control pet. Visit AndersonCooper.com for more information.
Dog Caller
1. Dog Caller

Created by Rethink Toronto on behalf of the Toronto Humane Society, the Dog Caller tells owners when their pooch is suffering from the heat. The device uses an Internet-connected collar that has an SIM card and a thermistor to send a text to your phone when the temperature reaches 79 degrees or higher. This device will be available next year. (Price: $20)

For more information, visit Mashable.com

Pet Tracker

The Tagg GPS Pet Tracker allows owners to track their pets (that are over 10 lbs.) with a GPS tracker. A detailed map can be viewed on an iPad, smartphone or computer. (Price: $99.95 + 1 month of service; then $7.99 a month for the Verizon tracking

The "Anderson Live" web team has scoured tech blogs, online magazines and even Pinterest in search of some of the coolest, trending tech gadgets. Here are ten items that caught our eye… check it out!

Did your favorite tech toy make the list? If not, tell us! We're looking for weird, useful, wacky or cool gadgets to feature on the show for Season 2.

Blade Runner LED Umbrella1. 'Blade Runner' Style LED Umbrella

Although it may look like a "Star Wars" light saber, it's actually the Blade Runner Style LED Umbrella, which glows in the dark and protects you from the rain. You can choose from two colors for the LED - white or blue, and batteries are included. (Price: $24.99)

Visit ThinkGeek.com for more information.

Almighty Board

Last season, Anderson's guests were enthusiastic about cooking and sharing their delicious recipes. Something to add to your kitchen is the Almighty Board - which is the ultimate hi-tech kitchen assistant. This smart-board will simultaneously serve as your cutting

Which dish will you make?
Charles Mattocks aka "The Poor Chef" lives by the motto "Each cheap, but eat well."

As a special guest blogger for AndersonCooper.com, Charles is sharing seven delicious recipes that each cost just $7-10 dollars. If you're looking for delectable yet cost-efficient recipes for you and your family, take a look...

1. Granny's Curry Chicken

Ingredients:
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1/3 cup golden raisins (optional)
1/4 cup toasted, slivered almonds
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow curry powder, or to taste
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves (1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup yogurt
Minced fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish

Directions:
Put the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add the onions (and optional raisins), sprinkle with some salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent; about 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium, sprinkle with half of the curry

Baseball

By: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach, who appeared on "Anderson's Easy Money Hour."

The summer Olympics have brought out the sports fan in all of us. But the high cost of tickets to sporting events can take a huge bite out of your wallet -- dampening the enthusiasm of even die-hard sports fanatics.

Organizers of the 2012 Olympics in London learned this the hard way, as some seats at the Olympics are going empty because ticket prices are too expensive.

If you're like most Americans, you probably can't afford to hop on a plane to London and then fork over hundreds of dollars to snag a seat in Olympic Stadium.

What you can do, however, is score tickets to live, local sports in your own town or city. In fact, you can get sports tickets on the cheap -- or sometimes even free -- if you know where to look.

Here are 10 ways findaffordable tickets for sporting events practically in your backyard -- all without blowing your budget.

1. Bid for Tickets