runningIt can be a hard thing to find someone who you feel comfortable exercising with. Right? I mean, this is someone you have to feel okay sweating next to, someone who doesn't mind if you make weird noises. You should feel no judgment from this person. If you're trying something new and you don't quite get it right, this person should be in your corner. Not only that, but this is someone you should be comfortable chatting with, and, ideally, someone whom you actually enjoy spending time with. Working out with her should be something you look forward to - it may even be the social/emotional aspect of the workout that gets you there.

But the perfect workout buddy should be more than just a friend. If you're going to stay motivated and interested, if you're going to improve and become more fit, your workout buddy should be . . . well, a lot of things.

1. Your equal

You two should be able to run at about the same pace, or be able to weightlift about as much as each other, or be

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By Sandy M. Fernández

To get your kids to eat more fruits and veggies, get them invested early in life -- the plant's life, that is. "I've never seen a child refuse to eat something she grew herself," says Amanda Grant, author of the brand-new Grow It, Cook It With Kids. She suggests that little ones:

Till the soil

Give them a little rake and a job clearing the rocks out of a small part of your garden. Toddlers love a task, especially if it involves sitting and rooting around in dirt.

Water the strawberries

These plants are kid faves because, says Grant, "they don't need much attention and you can clearly see the little strawberry growing day by day." A flowering plant from a garden center, sprinkled daily (but no more!) by your child, should have fruit in a few weeks.

Plus: 5 Simple Ways Kids Can Help the Environment

Bury the potatoes

Who hasn't grown a plant out of a spud's sprouting eye? (Even if, um, unintentionally.) Bury the burgeoning eyes in a few

What you need to know about car careDid you know that April is Car Care Awareness Month? Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com, joins Easy Does It host Ereka Vetrini to shine some light on what's really going on under your hood.

Related: Routine car maintenance tasks to stay up to speed on

DeVere says that the biggest mistake people make is "really not understanding what your car needs." To combat this, she says, "Crack open that dusty manual that's usually in the glove box of your car and understand the basic needs of your car and the intervals that those should be done. And then do it to the letter of the law. That's going to prevent a lot of costly, long-term, expensive problems."

Related: Cut car repair costs!

According to DeVere, you should become familiar with your car's service interval schedule to avoid being upsold products or services that you don't really need. In addition, she says, "Take a look around your car, and if you hear any funny noises, be able to report them with confidence. You want to approach the

Brian Klutch/Fitness MagazineBy Samantha Shelton

If your morning meal can be best described as "Pour, eat, repeat," it's time to shake up your wake-up. But venturing into the cereal aisle, where every box seems to be plastered with confusing claims that make even the biggest nutritional dud seem like a winner, is enough to make you want to skip breakfast. To the rescue: eight cereals that really belong in your bowl. Our nutritionists verified that each one contains at least 3 grams of fiber, no more than 13 grams of sugar (some of which comes from dried fruit), and less than 230 calories per serving, while our testers ensured that they tasted great.

Related: Healthy Food Awards: The Best Greek Yogurts

What Makes a Winner

Companies submitted nearly 40 new cereals to FITNESS. Our experts -- Anar Allidina, RD, a dietitian in private practice in Toronto; Keri Gans, RD. the author of The Small Change Diet; and Stephanie Middleberg, RD, the founder of Middleberg Nutrition in New York City -- helped us determine which

Touches of nature reign supreme in this unique Mother Earth-inspired décor fit for every season
More from Sunset:
30 living room style tips
14 key decorating strategies
54 home decorating projects

Andrea M. Gómez
Coastal chic
Vintage glass bottles are like treasures that washed ashore. Paired with seashells, they help create a coastal organic look inspired by Southern California's natural and simple beach lifestyle.

Thomas J. Story
Fancy florals
Violet anemone and hyacinth blooms, seeded eucalyptus, and green berries are displayed like rare specimens in bell jars and catch the light streaming in from a window.

Thomas J. Story
Fresh centerpiece
When cut to the length of your dining table, a piece of weathered barn wood can function as a runner (no ironing required). Use the plank as a stage for seasonal produce, such as plums, pears, apples, figs, and pattypan squash. Weave crabapple branches throughout for added texture, and stagger candles nestled in pebble-filled votive holders for ambience.

Thomas J. Story
Nature-inspired bar
A bar is

By Sarah Kulchar for TheBump.com

Photo: Getty / The BumpBeing a mom. There is a lot of change that comes along with becoming a mom but there are some parts of it that are simply great. I've got to admit that there are a lot of (unexpected) things that "being a mom" has helped me out with. Not that being a mom should be used as an excuse on purpose, but let's be honest - sometimes it is the best excuse. Whether its intended or not, let's enjoy the perks of it while they are there.

Here's some that I thought of:

1. You all of a sudden have a great excuse to look a bit ragged. Another plus - if you even look semi-presentable, people always comment on how great you look for having a little one to care for. Score!

Unbelievable new mom confessions!

2. You can sneak out of those pesky friend and family events. Whoops, baby has an early bedtime!" to jet out of a place sooner. Am I right or am I right?

3. You finally have something to bond over with that super cool mom that you see at various social events. Nothing beats

Monster SprayOne spray keeps the monsters away! When my son was little I was proud, patting myself on the back that he wasn't afraid of the dark. He would play in a dark room without even thinking. He would walk into a dark room like it was broad day light. I thought for sure it was my perfect parenting. Then it happened. He was 3 and suddenly my perfect parenting world fell into pieces. My son decided that there were monsters under the bed, in his closet and any dark room. This was before the introduction of Sully and Mike in Monsters, Inc. which would have really helped. I was on my own.

His imagination went from building train tracks to monsters running the world. After a short derailment......I found my perfect parenting hat again after talking to a girlfriend of mine who was ahead of me in this parenting gig. She simply said I needed Magic Monster Spray.

I quickly wrote down everything I needed and made some up that day. After mixing up this special potion, I let my son spray the

Source: Timing Is Everything: When to Eat to Lose Weight

When trying to slim down, we're bombarded with what foods to eat and how much, but it's not the only thing you need to think about. Timing is important, too. If you've had issues slimming down, check out the info below to see when to eat each meal and snack to optimize your weight-loss results.

Breakfast: Don't skip breakfast, and be sure to eat your morning meal within an hour of waking to jump-start your metabolism, consuming 25 percent of your daily calories. Example: 7 a.m.

Morning snack: Eat two to three hours after breakfast. This will keep blood sugar levels stable to avoid the low-energy sluggishness that makes you reach for high-calorie treats. Snacking also prevents the famished feeling that makes you inhale way more calories at your next meal than you would if you weren't plagued by hunger pains. Stick to 150 calories or less, about five percent of your daily calories. Example: 9:30 a.m.


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