by Gabrielle on August 2, 2010
Trying to shed a few pounds? It’ll be easier to skip high-calorie treats when you carry a photo of a new swimsuit or dress you want to fit into and look at it whenever cravings strike. A new University of Texas at Austin study shows that having a strong reminder of the long-term benefits of not giving in to temptation—such as fitting into a smaller size—makes it significantly easier to stick to a diet plan since folks tend to focus on the short-term benefits of giving in—such as how good the treat will taste.
[photo: Alaskan Dude]
by Gabrielle on August 2, 2010
Barbecuing is an easy way to add delicious flavor and juiciness to steaks, hamburgers, chicken and shrimp that your guests rave about—if you do it right. Unfortunately, common barbecuing mistakes can make food tough, dry, undercooked or overcooked, says Steven Raichlen, author of Planet Barbecue. Here are his tricks for overcoming barbecuing disasters to get a perfectly grilled meal every time:
* Put the food on the grill at the magic moment. If you’re using charcoal, wait 20 minutes after you light it—by then it will be glowing orange. Put the food on sooner and the charcoal may not provide enough heat to cook the food properly; if you wait longer, the charcoal may burn out before you’re finished cooking. If you’re using a propane or natural gas grill, pre-heat it for 15 to 20 minutes before you start cooking. Also key: Be sure to have at least 1/3 a tank of fuel, so you’ll have enough gas to last until the food is done. If your tank doesn’t have a gauge, carefully pour hot water over one side of the tank; condensation will form where the fuel is, indicating how much is left.
* Leave 30% of the grill grate empty. This way, if a flare-up occurs, there’s extra space to move the food out of the way of the flames until they die back down so it doesn’t get charred.
* Flip meat with tongs. Using a fork punctures holes in it, causing its juices to run out, making the meat dry.
* Give meat the poke test. There’s an easy way to avoid undercooking and overcooking—pull meat to front edge of grill and press it with your finger. If it’s soft and squishy, it’s rare; if it feels firmer but still gives, it’s closer to medium rare; if it’s mostly firm, but has a little give, it’s closer to medium; if it’s hard and springy, it’s well done. For larger meats, like a roast, use a meat thermometer.
* Let meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. The intense heat from the grill tenses up the meat, making it tough. Letting it rest for five minutes on a plate covered with foil allows the muscle fiber to relax, making it softer and juicier.
by Gabrielle on May 20, 2010
The easiest one! It doesn’t matter which weight-loss plan you choose—Zone, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.—so long as it’s one that you find easy to stick to. You’ll lose twice as much weight on it as someone who’s trying to shed pounds on a diet they don’t like, reveals a study out of Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. So, ignore what works for your friends and family and pick the diet plan you prefer the most.
[photo: Foxtongue]
by Gabrielle on May 20, 2010
Love sandal season, but aren’t ready to show your toes? Good news: All you need is the right kind of babying to make your feet ready for your even your skimpiest warm weather footwear. Here’s what dermatologist Richard Scher, M.D., recommends for getting beautiful-looking feet fast:
* Rub away calluses. Fill the tub with warm salt-water and soak your feet for about 10 minutes. Dry off, then gently massage hard, thickened areas of skin with a pumice stone.
* Banish dry, cracked heels. Use an exfoliating lotion that contains alpha-hydroxy acid, which removes rough skin. Try Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Foot Crème ($5.99 for three ounces, drugstore.com).
* Soften at night. Right before bed, rub on your favorite moisturizing lotion. Or try one that’s infused with mint, which quickly soothes tired, achy feet.
[photo: dml82]
by Gabrielle on May 17, 2010
Do you have gold jewelry that you no longer wear or that’s broken? Now may be the time to sell it since the price of gold has hit a record high, over $1,200 an ounce! But don’t cash it in just anywhere or you could be getting less than it’s worth, warns Suzanne Martinez, co-owner of Lang Antiques in San Francisco. Here are her tips for getting the most money from your gold:
* Have just a few pieces to sell? Take it to a jeweler. But before you agree on a price, ask these questions: “How much does my gold weigh?”, “What’s the karat?” and “How much do you pay per gram or penny weight?” Expect to be offered anywhere from 80% to 85% of what the gold is worth. Then shop around for the best offer.
* Have a lot to sell? If you’ve got 10 or more pieces, take them to a jewelry refiner—that’s where jewelers go to melt down gold, so you’ll be getting a better price by cutting out the middleman. However, refiners charge a fee for processing the gold, so you have to have enough to make it worth your while. To find one in your area, simply look in the yellow pages for “jewelry refiner”.
* Have vintage gold jewelry? Take them to an estate jeweler. You’ll get even more than what the gold is worth because the workmanship makes the jewelry more valuable.
Tip: The higher the karat of gold—10K, 14K, 18K, 24K—the more your jewelry is worth. But, keep in mind that gold jewelry is made from a mix of gold and other metals, so the weight of your pieces won’t reflect the price you’re offered.
Tip: Check the current price of gold at kitco.com/market.
[photo: Mykl Roventine]
by Gabrielle on May 10, 2010
Not 100% sure what the symbols printed on labels in clothing mean? One mix-up can spell disaster for a much-loved garment. Easy solution: Log onto textileaffairs.com from Clorox, where you’ll find clear explanations of each symbol so you’ll know which need to be washed in cold water, dry cleaned or laundered separately.
[photo: kittenishkitten]
by Gabrielle on May 7, 2010
Having trouble focusing on a project, for instance, a budget you’re writing, a document you’re typing or a paper you’re researching? A recent study out of Washington University reveals an easy, fast solution to amping up your concentration: imagine that you’re holding the computer monitor or document in your hands. Study participants who pictured themselves touching a computer monitor in front of them found it significantly easier to zero in on a computer-based word task than when they imagined holding their hands behind their backs. Why? Our brain automatically zooms in on items that are closest to our hands—even if we only imagine where our hands are, the researchers say.
[photo: Don Hankin]
by Gabrielle on May 6, 2010
Think lucky people are born that way? Not according to psychologist Richard Wiseman, Ph.D., author of The Luck Factor. His research shows that people who generate good fortune tend to follow three easy habits. And, when volunteers tried them in a recent study, 80% turned their luck around after just one month. To up your luck, start by…
* Trying something new. People who attract good luck are more open to meeting people, trying new activities and even driving a new route to work. Getting out of a rut increases your chances of learning about a new job opening, business opportunity, eligible bachelor, great shopping deal, school scholarship or other lucky find.
* Listening to your intuition. Numerous studies have shown that the nagging feeling you get in your gut when making a decision is actually your subconscious putting together information from past experiences, helping you make the right choice.
* Looking for a silver lining. A resilient attitude can transform bad luck into good—for instance, if the grocery store is all out of the ingredients for your family’s favorite dinner, a different recipe you try could end up being your family’s new favorite.
[photo: cygnus921]
by Gabrielle on May 5, 2010
Herbs are easy to grow and make your favorite dishes taste delicious. No wonder herb gardening is one of the most popular warm weather pastimes around. And you can savor your garden’s bounty long into the fall and winter months by drying them, says Amanda Bevill, owner of World Spice Merchants in Seattle, Washington. To do it:
* Harvest herbs at their peak. Pick leaves right before the plant flowers—that’s when they contain the hightest level of compounds that give them their distinctive flavor. Do your harvesting in the morning or evening since the sun’s heat reduces these flavorful compounds. Tip: If you harvest in the morning, make sure there’s no dew on the leaves since this will slow down the drying process.
* Dry herbs slowly. You may be tempted to pop them in the oven to speed up the process, but its high heat bakes away the flavor. Instead, hang spices with stems—such as lavender, oregano and tarragon—in small bunches. And spread out other spices on a screen that allows air to circulate. Put all drying spices in a shady, warm corner of the kitchen away from direct sunlight, which can burn the delicate leaves. Let them sit for about a week. When the leaves crackle between your fingers and fall apart, they’re finished drying.
* Store herbs right away. Put them in airtight jars away from heat and light. You’ll be able to use them for up to 12 months.
[photo: stevendepolo]
by Gabrielle on April 27, 2010
Want your kids, spouse or co-worker to lend a helping hand? They’re more likely to pitch in if they see someone else being kind first—even if it’s on TV. In fact, the journal Psychological Science reports that volunteers who watched a segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show where musicians thanked their mentors spent twice as more time helping a research assistant afterward as those who viewed funny TV clips. The link? Seeing someone else do a selfless act creates the kind of warm and fuzzy feeling that makes us want act selflessly, too.
[photo: still wanderer]
by Gabrielle on April 27, 2010
Whether you’re flying off to your dream vacation or visiting your aunt just a car ride away, finding a drugstore, restaurant, wi-fi connection and other necessities within seconds is easy. For…
* Drugstores, restaurants, hair salons, banks and other businesses… Try mashspots.com, which lists all nearby options on a Google map, pinpointing exactly where they are and how to get there.
* Free wi-fi… Log onto we-fi.com or jiwire.com to find the closest cafes, libraries, hotels and other businesses that offer a complimentary connection.
* Fun events… At eventful.com and zvents.com, you can learn about music, arts and crafts, plays, festivals and other free and low-cost activities that are taking place during your visit.
[photo: Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL]
