– From cooking to entertaining, the kitchen – always the heart of the home – now takes center stage as the 21st century hub of the home. As families spend more time in their homes, today’s “command central” kitchen needs to be multi-functional and high-definition with easy-to-maintain surfaces dedicated to cooking, working, Web surfing and blogging, paying bills and doing homework, as well as creating a comfortable environment to entertain with family and friends.
Winter means updating your outerwear to include mittens and a thermal jacket, but before you hit the road, have you also updated your winter driving skills? When temperatures drop, roads can become more dangerous, meaning you need to change how you drive.
– Busy is the buzzword for today’s working woman. Whether she is self-employed or works outside of the home, there’s a good chance she also juggles tasks like raising children, caring for aging parents, and making time for personal relationships. Recent statistics also show that women are shouldering much of the financial responsibility when it comes to the household income.
– In today’s technically advanced world, radical groups and rogue states don’t just use guns and bombs to attack our country and allies; they use technology and information too. The need to defend against these cyber attacks has spurred an evolution in the field of Information Warfare – and generated exciting, meaningful career opportunities for a new generation of men and women who want to serve their country.
Forty percent, or 5 million, of unemployed Americans are considered “long-term unemployed,“ according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning they have been jobless for at least 27 weeks. With so many people facing long-term unemployment it’s inevitable that the topic is raised as they seek and interview for jobs.
Curb appeal is integral when selling a home, but when the trees are bare and the ground is covered in dirty snow, the winter months can make it very difficult to showcase your home’s attractive landscaping. But smart sellers know that taking extra steps to care for and present a home’s exterior is a worthwhile investment, particularly during the real estate off-season. There is one improvement you can make that will help boost your home’s outdoor appeal no matter what the season: a deck.
– With public opinion surveys showing the popularity of Congress at or near all-time lows, a free online service is empowering thousands of citizens to send an easy-to-understand letter grade to any member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.
– For students, going to school isn’t just about understanding reading, writing and arithmetic; it’s also about learning the importance of good nutrition. Healthy eating takes center stage in the lunch room, so when your children open their lunch boxes, are they hitting a healthy home run, or striking out?
– If preparing the holiday feast falls upon you, the pressure is on to get it just right. Whether you’re faithfully replicating treasured family recipes, or want to put a new creative spin on seasonal culinary customs, achieving success with the food you offer can define a happy holiday experience for all.
In the words of a popular Christmas carol, there’s no place like home for the holidays – it’s where family gathers and where long-treasured memories are made. So this year as you begin shopping for those on your list, why not gift something for them and for their abode? There’s something for everyone – for the music junkie, the whole family, even for the king or queen of the brood. Read on for some outside-the-box gift ideas that will add instant luxe inside the home.
– As parents and kids fall back into their daily routines, it’s important to be as prepared as possible with new shoes, pencils, notebooks and more. But there’s one more thing that’s just as essential when it comes to achieving a successful day at school: breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
Most of us know that physical activity provides outstanding benefits, such as maintaining a healthy weight, reducing belly fat, increasing bone density, improving cognitive function and improving sleep quality. But remaining physically active as you age can also help guard against certain chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some cancers. People who are most fit at midlife experience better health and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases after the age of 65, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Healthy feet are essential for overall good health, no matter your age, fitness level or physical challenges. For people with diabetes, however, taking care of their feet is especially vital. More than 60 percent of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations worldwide are related to complications from the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The new year is widely accepted as a time to start fresh, and every year people make resolutions to better themselves. For many, this means vowing to make lifestyle changes to improve how they look and feel. However, sticking to restrictive diets and intense workout programs can be difficult and not sustainable for most people. Before you get hooked by the annual flood of diet tips and gym promotions, focus on a few key areas to commit to a healthier lifestyle for 2013.
Driven by a growing senior population, soldiers returning home injured from war and the ongoing obesity epidemic, mobility and home accessibility issues are becoming more commonplace in America. In response, companies today are creating innovative home solutions that focus on both improved form and function, and serve to create welcome alternatives to traditional solutions for homeowners with mobility and home access challenges.
Popular fiction, TV shows and movies often describe the feeling of falling in love as a fast beating, fluttering heart. In real life, that rapid heartbeat isn’t always such a happy and exciting experience. Why? It could be atrial fibrillation.
– For a basic green living project with benefits to your wallet and the environment, consider revamping the kitchen pantry. The cupboard is the starting point for most kitchen activity and is more than just a storage space. Develop good buying habits and build a strong foundation and you can avoid the waste of food and money. Here’s how to tackle the task at once or little by little.
– The new school year is upon us and with it comes hectic schedules and harried mornings that make weekdays a mad dash. With school lunches to make, snacks to prepare and evening meals to plan, getting out the door on time can be a challenge. Having the house in order and a few things made ahead of time can be a huge convenience that means a world of difference in those time-crunched minutes.
How many times have you walked into your child’s classroom only to see the boys and girls separated into two different groups, playing with completely different toys? The boys are likely huddled around the building blocks, creating skyscrapers and forts, while the girls are busy painting and coloring.
Family vacations are a source of great fun and memories for years to come, but that doesn’t mean that finding a destination that will entertain every member of your family is always easy.
– Mom and grandma had it right: Providing your body with a meal at the beginning of the day can have a multitude of benefits, from keeping you in a good mood to preventing bad snack habits. To get the maximum effectiveness from your breakfast, it needs to be nutrition-packed. Of course, it’s just as important that what you eat to start the day is delicious.
– With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day – and according to recently released research, a majority of them expecting to live to nearly 90 – the celebration of older Americans is a developing trend, and more people are aspiring to live longer and better than ever before.
How many people do you have on your holiday shopping list? And how much are you planning – or able – to spend on gifts?
– When cold winds blow, it can be tricky to keep different rooms throughout your home at the right temperature – especially if you have old and drafty windows, tight spaces or room additions to work around. It can also be challenging to ensure economical comfort without having to do a major heating system overhaul. Yet there are easy and flexible ways to heat your home in areas where it needs it most and still stay comfortable all winter long.
Car care is no longer defined by the season. Modern cars don’t need special attention during the winter months with the exception of changing to winter tires depending on where you live. Instead, the reliability and life of your car depends on you following good maintenance practices. Avoiding these common car care mistakes will help keep your car on the road longer.
Heading to the grocery store might mean you need a little more change in your pockets these days. With severe drought affecting much of the Midwest, economists predict grain, produce and meat prices will increase dramatically.
With so many options based on where you live and what prescriptions you need, selecting a Medicare Part D Plan can be complicated and time consuming. However, every American 65 and older or Medicare disabled who wishes to enroll must enroll in a plan for 2013 no later than Dec. 7, 2012.
The cool, crisp air, brisk breezes and snow falling outside mean the cold weather season is upon us. With the advent of the temperature change, are you ready to face winter in style?
Choosing the perfect gift for your loved ones can be a difficult task. However, you don’t have to stress about going from store to store wondering if you’re picking out the right size or color or whether it fits your budget.
– A holiday season without baked goodies would be like a movie without popcorn, burgers without fries or a sundae sans cherry: good but not quite perfect. If you enjoy baking traditional holiday favorites, you may also like trying new recipes. Experimenting with new recipes is easier if you start out with a well-stocked pantry.
