Blog Posts by iVillage

Shrunken apple heads are an old-fashioned Halloween craft, but this updated edible version turns them into a healthy snack that will be a hit with kids and adults alike! Pop one into a lunchbox or serve a tray of them at your Halloween party. They're good on their own, but can also be drizzled with caramel sauce or cinnamon Shrunken apple heads are an old-fashioned Halloween craft, but this updated edible version turns them into a healthy snack that will be a hit with kids and adults alike! Pop one into a lunchbox or serve a tray of them at your Halloween party. They're good on their own, but can also be drizzled with caramel sauce or cinnamon "hair" for an extra spooky treat
By Alejandra Ramos

1. Gather your supplies
It doesn't take much to make these creepy little guys. Here is a list of what you'll need:
Apples (1 per serving)
Vegetable peeler
Small spoon
Paring knife
A few toothpicks
1 lemon
A few whole cloves (optional).

Choose large, crisp apples, and don't worry about bumps or bruises - they will help make the final shrunken head seem even creepier!

Click here to read more on DIY Edible Shrunken Heads!

More from iVillage.com:
- 36 Wickedly Good Halloween Party Recipes: Snacks, Drinks and More!
- 10 Devilishly Spicy Recipes for Halloween
- Almost Too Cute to Eat: 13 Halloween Cake Pop

Read More »from Get Crafty! DIY Edible Shrunken Heads for Halloween

Jessica Smith

Your week-long action plan for short-skirt ready legs: Tone them with these easy workouts that exercise your calves, hamstrings, quads, glutes and inner thighs.

More from iVillage.com:

Tone Your Arms in 7 Days -- Yes, It's Possible!

30 Minutes to a Sleek Physique: The No-Equipment Workout That You Can Do Anywhere

Slimmer Thighs in 7 Days. Yes, It's Possible!

Read More »from Tone Your Legs in 7 Days -- Yes, It’s Possible!

Kids fidgeting in a movieBy Brenda Kearns

Ditch the guilt! These health "hazards" can banish fatigue, ease depression, speed weight loss and more.

Fidgeting and Squirming
Fidget, pace, bounce a foot, twirl your hair, fiddle with the phone cord...those small muscle movements act like exercise, burning off damaging stress hormones during tense times, says cardiologist Stephen Sinatra, M.D., author of Reverse Heart Disease Now. And research at Rochester's Mayo Clinic suggests that people who fidget a lot increase their fat-burning metabolic rate by as much as 40 percent. The reason: Constant body movements stimulate the brain's release hormones that boost your ability to burn stored fat for energy.

Gossiping
Spending 20 minutes chatting with a trusted friend about other people's news (and, yes, even their minor misfortunes) helps 96 percent of people squash feelings of stress, tension and anxiety for up to four hours straight, say researchers at Rhode Island's Brown University. Even better? Women who spread

Read More »from 15 Bad Habits that Are Actually Good for Your Health

By Jessica Smith

Tone your arms in 7 days with these easy workouts that burn fat and exercise all the muscles groups in your arms, shoulders and upper back.

More from iVillage.com:

Tone Your Legs in 7 Days -- Yes, It's Possible!

30 Minutes to a Sleek Physique: The No-Equipment Workout You Can Do Anywhere

Slimmer Thighs in 7 Days -- Yes, It's Possible!

Read More »from Tone Your Arms in 7 Days -- Yes, It’s Possible!

Woman and man in bedBy Mary Bolster

Does your partner's snoring keep you awake at night? Try these tips to stop the snoring so you can get some sleep!

Roll Your Snorer Over
Is your guy a back sleeper? If so, it could be causing him to snore. As the tongue relaxes it sinks toward the back of the mouth, blocking airflow, and sleeping on your back makes it even easier for this to happen. What to do? Prod your snorer so he rolls over onto his side. If he's too big for you to push over or just keeps rolling onto his back, stick a long, stiff pillow behind his back to keep him on his side, says Nina Kolstanginova, M.D., of the Hamden Sleep Disorder Center of Connecticut. If that doesn't work, go bigger: Sew a tennis ball into the back of his PJs -- when he rolls on his back, he'll probably turn right back onto his side (or stomach).

Help Him Breathe Better
Nasal strips might not look sexy, but they may help turn your snorer into a silent snoozer. Available over-the-counter at most drug stores, the strips

Read More »from Is Your Guy’s Snoring Keeping You Up? 11 Ways to Get Some Sleep

Woman opening her curtainsBy Sheryl Kraft

Two out of three women have trouble sleeping at least a few nights a week. Here's how to use your waking hours - from 7 a.m. till to 11 p.m. -- to make sure you get a good night's slumber:

7-8 a.m. Eat the Right Breakfast
A hearty breakfast will give you the energy to get through your day without feeling excessively hungry or sleepy. Opt for an energy-rich combo of healthy fats, fiber, whole grains and protein. Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian in New York and author of Read It Before You Eat It, likes frozen whole grain waffles spread with almond butter.

Go ahead and pour yourself a cup (or two) of Joe. Aside from waking your brain, coffee can help you make better decisions and improve your short-term memory.

9-10 a.m. Expose Yourself (To Light, That is)
Pull open the curtains and flip your internal switch. Taking in some sunlight soon after you rise helps set your body's internal clock, called circadian rhythm, so it's easier to get to sleep at night, says

Read More »from An Hour-by-Hour Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep

By Jessica Smith

Okay, so you caved and ate one (or two) of your favorite high-calorie foods. How bad could it be? Here's exactly what it takes to burn off your indulgences

Puppy Ripping Paper. American Images Inc/The Image Bank/Getty ImagesBy Jessica Smith

Get results and stay motivated with your new workout routine by avoiding these common pitfalls

Sprinkle Fresh Nutmeg

In India, they've long used nutmeg to shake off funky moods. Reason? Studies there show that inhaling nutmeg's aromatic oils can kick-start the brain's production of relaxing, stress-soothing alpha waves almost instantly. Eating nutmeg can give you an even more impressive boost. According to Stanford University researchers, adding a quarter teaspoon to your daily diet could help you feel calmer and less easily rattled in as little as two weeks. Credit goes to nutmeg's active compounds -- myristicin and elemicin -- which actually mimic mood-boosting Prozac, the study authors say. Sprinkle fresh nutmeg over cereal, fruit, yogurt, hot cocoa and cider, and sneak it into recipes whenever you're whipping up sauces, veggie dishes and baked treats.

Write Yourself Big, Big Love Notes

Posting upbeat notes or inspirational sayings can help you feelRead More »from 15 Easy and Natural Stress Busters that Really Work