The cruelty of office cubicle land gets particularly bitter in the summer, when birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and you, poor dear, are stuck inside in the land of gray. We've got some simple tips to help you bring nature's stamp not only onto that corporate-issued space, but in your home, as well. A bouquet of flowers look just as lovely on your bedside table as it does on your desk, and some of the ideas here are perfectly fit for transforming your standard box apartment into a forest of enchantment. Read on, nature lover!

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Yearning for a garden but are all thumbs when it comes to a green thumb? Real-Life Makeover is here to make your greenery dreams come true with five flowering plants that will thrive with even the lousiest gardener.



1. Hosta
With lots of gorgeous foliage, hosta is a perennial, meaning you only have to plant it once and it continues to thrive year after year. Water it once a week, and it could last decades. Hosta, which flowers in early to mid-summer, is shade tolerant and is a favorite pick for garden ground cover.

2. Coneflower
These long-blooming beauties are drought-tolerant, which makes them perfect for the "I forgot to water...again" gardeners among us. Thriving in full sun, these old-fashioned prairie plants can stand the heat in the sunniest spot in your garden, but don't do well in wet soil.

3. Impatiens
This annual is perfect for the non-committal gardener. Impatiens can take all but the deepest shade, and work well as container plants (the answer to your window box

Most of us would probably consider ourselves generously spirited people, genuinely happy for others when good things come their way. Even still, most of us can say we are no stranger to that familiar pang of jealousy over someone else's career, house, or crazy long legs. I myself felt a twinge of this recently when all the coolest people in my 'hood were profiled in a magazine as being fabulous and creative, which they are. I felt stoked for their publicity. But that little whiny voice inside could still be heard saying, "Why aren't I in the magazine?" As much as of any of us try to not pay attention to whatever the Joneses are up to, jealousy can still creep in. Here are five ways to keep that green-eyed monster in check:

1. It's usually not a zero sum game. Feelings of jealousy usually get set off when we see someone with more than us: more money, more love, more Manolos. But their stuff doesn't have anything to do with us. Their success in scoring a life-long love or the house of

Raise your hand if you're spending a ton of time dwelling on a breakup and, in the process, neglecting yourself. Chances are many, many hands went up. After a breakup, it's normal to get lost in the hurt, the details, the questions…the wondering 'what if'. Working through all of that is a necessary step towards healing, but equally crucial is caring for yourself. Striking a balance can help pull you back onto your feet, steer you away from a painful past, and point you in the direction of a promising future.

We've all heard that exercise and good nutrition can lift our spirits and self-esteem, and research backs that up. Now that summer is on its way-along with sundresses, fresh fruits and vegetables, and trips to the beach-it's a perfect time to create an action plan for giving your body (and, as a result, your mind) some tender loving care.

Certified personal trainer and nutrition expert Sarah Eley, owner of Real Fitness Coaching [www.realfitnesscoaching.com]-a

If the wall of humidity hasn't hit you yet, chances are it will at some point in the next three months. Hot, steamy air is anathema to a crisp, ready-to-take-over-the-world work look, but a few well-chosen summer pieces can make you ready for action, regardless of the day's heat index. Here are ten examples of summer workplace essentials. Find the shapes and colors that work best for you, but in general, think cotton blouses, breathable fabrics, swirly skirts and easy shirtdresses. And don't forget a light cardigan for those high-octane air conditioners.

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Modern life's got a few things going for it. We've got the internet (and thus online shopping), supermarkets, and indoor plumbing. But for all our innovations, there are still some very, very old ideas that have stood the test of time. One such system of solutions is Ayurveda. Sanskrit for "science of life," Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old tradition of Indian medicine. So what's that got to do with you and your Blackberry and your treadmill? As it turns out, a lot.

The June issue of Whole Living includes an article on "Modern Ayurveda," and how this ancient health system can potentially heal the stressed out, harried, and overweight through diet, lifestyle, "detox" massage, cleansing techniques, and herbal remedies. And to put this in a nutshell, it's all about balance. Paging Ms. Modern--isn't this something you always say you're after?

According to Ayurveda, each of us has a primary energy, or dosha: vata (movement), pitta (transformation), kapha (stability). Take this quiz to find

There's an underrated Cyndi Lauper song called "Money Changes Everything." Yesterday's news story about a father's plot to murder his own son in order to keep $16 million in lottery winnings for himself drove this point home loud and clear. Stories like this illustrate the ways in which sudden wealth changes people for the worst, mucking up relationships and screwing up priorities. Is it any wonder that Roseanne went seriously down hill once the Connors were rich?

But money, as we all daydream about as we gaze out from our cubicle, can spell freedom. If you imagine yourself rolling in dough, you take away one of our oldest excuses in the book for not going after what we want: "Yeah, I'd visit Italy/go to cooking school/have a baby...if I had the money." Imagining that you've got millions burning a hole in your pocket can reveal what you really want out of life. Because after the shopping spree loses its thrill and free time seems less dazzling, you'll have the means to craft the ideal

They're all bright and patterned this season. We found the perfect one for your body, so you'll never look like you're wearing the curtains!

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